Chapter 6 - The Boardroom
At 8:57 a.m., Ethan entered Blackwood Tower carrying the sealed evidence container containing the poisoned teacup.
Marcus walked beside him.
Detective Collins watched from an unmarked surveillance room two floors below.
Lily remained at the hospital with Amelia under armed protection.
Ethan had resisted leaving them.
Amelia insisted.
“Finish it.”
“Then come home.”
The boardroom doors opened.
Twelve directors sat around the polished walnut table.
Thomas Vale occupied the seat directly opposite Ethan.
Silver-haired.
Calm.
Impeccably dressed.
Exactly as always.
Elaine Mercer stood when Ethan entered.
“Ethan.”
“You’re alive.”
He looked at her.
“Were you expecting otherwise?”
The room went silent.
Thomas smiled faintly.
“Everyone heard about an incident at your home.”
Ethan placed the evidence bag on the table.
“This incident?”
Several directors leaned forward.
The poisoned tea sat inside.
The cup still carried Ethan’s fingerprints.
Thomas’s expression barely moved.
But Ethan saw it.
Recognition.
Rebecca entered behind him.
She distributed copies of the toxicology report.
“Last night, an attempt was made on Mr. Blackwood’s life.”
A director gasped.
Rebecca continued.
“Victor Blackwood has been arrested in connection with that attempt and several related crimes.”
Thomas folded his hands.
“If Victor has been arrested, the emergency succession motion should be withdrawn.”
Ethan looked at him.
“Interesting.”
“What is?”
“You sound disappointed.”
Thomas smiled.
“I sound practical.”
Ethan pressed a button.
The boardroom screen activated.
A photograph of Lily appeared.
Seven years old.
Yellow pajamas.
Silver locket.
Ethan looked around the table.
“This is Lily Blackwood.”
Silence.
One director frowned.
“Your daughter died.”
“No.”
“My daughter was stolen.”
Murmurs erupted.
Ethan displayed the hospital bracelet.
The locket.
The guardianship documents.
Then a preliminary DNA report Samuel had rushed overnight.
99.99 percent probability of paternity.
Elaine covered her mouth.
Thomas remained still.
Ethan watched him carefully.
“Lily is alive.”
“And under the Blackwood family trust, Victor has no succession claim.”
Thomas finally spoke.
“If this is verified.”
Ethan almost smiled.
“It is.”
Thomas tapped one finger against the table.
“That creates complications.”
“For whom?”
“For the company.”
“No.”
Ethan stepped closer.
“For the men who spent seven years pretending she was dead.”
Thomas’s eyes met his.
There.
A flicker.
Ethan continued.
“My wife is alive too.”
The room exploded.
Questions.
Gasps.
Disbelief.
Thomas stopped tapping his finger.
Rebecca placed photographs of Amelia’s medical confinement on the screen.
Ethan watched every director.
Most looked horrified.
Two looked frightened.
Thomas looked annoyed.
Then the boardroom doors opened.
A security officer entered.
He whispered something to Thomas.
Thomas stood.
“Excuse me.”
Ethan blocked his path.
“Meeting isn’t over.”
Thomas smiled.
“For me, it is.”
Then every screen in the boardroom went black.
The elevator controls stopped working.
The doors locked.
And Thomas said quietly:
May you like
“You should have stayed home with your daughter.”
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