Chapter 11 - BLOOD ISN'T LOYALTY
My father stared at his brother through the windshield.
Richard looked calm.
Almost bored.
He wore a navy suit, polished shoes, and the smile I had seen at every Thanksgiving dinner since I was a child.
“He knew we'd find him,” I whispered.
Dad nodded.
“He wants us to.”
Richard raised his phone.
Mine rang.
I answered.
“Uncle Richard.”
“Hello, Ellie.”
I hated that he used my childhood nickname.
“Where's Vanessa?”
“Inside.”
“Adrian?”
“Also inside.”
“Why?”
He sighed.
“Because your father made the same mistake our father did.”
Dad's face hardened.
“What mistake?”
“He gave everything to the wrong person.”
I looked at Dad.
Richard continued.
“When our father died, Thomas got control. When your mother died, you inherited another block of shares.”
“So?”
“So Mercer Global became your little family kingdom.”
“You own stock too.”
“Not enough.”
There it was.
No complicated motivation.
No moral excuse.
Greed.
Pure and ordinary.
“You used Vanessa.”
“She was ambitious.”
“You helped her steal from me.”
“She needed money.”
“You forged my signatures.”
“Marcus handled most of that.”
“And Adrian?”
Richard laughed.
“Adrian was easy.”
Something in me snapped.
“You destroyed my marriage.”
“No, Ellie.”
For the first time, his voice became serious.
“Adrian destroyed your marriage.”
I hated him.
But he was right.
“I gave him opportunities to betray you. He took every single one.”
Dad closed his eyes briefly.
Richard continued.
“Vanessa told him you were weak. He believed her. She told him you were infertile. He let her humiliate you. She told him your family had no power. He treated you accordingly.”
My throat tightened.
“Why tonight?”
“Because she was supposed to make him force you to sign the divorce settlement.”
“And then?”
“You would leave humiliated. Thomas would attack Adrian financially. Markets would react. Mercer assets tied to Vale Meridian would move.”
Dad understood first.
“You were going to short our positions.”
Richard laughed.
“Always the smart brother.”
The scale of it hit me.
This wasn't revenge.
It was a financial attack.
Billions could move during panic.
“And Vanessa?” I asked.
“She gets Adrian's remaining assets.”
“What about the baby?”
A pause.
“Her problem.”
I looked at Dad.
“Is the DNA document fake?”
Richard didn't answer.
“Uncle Richard.”
“You should ask Vanessa.”
Gunfire suddenly cracked from inside the building.
Police moved.
Richard turned toward the sound.
Then everything exploded into motion.
He ran.
Officers shouted.
Dad's security team moved toward us.
I heard another gunshot.
Then Vanessa appeared on the second-floor balcony of the unfinished building.
She had one arm around Adrian.
A gun pressed against his neck.
Blood ran down the side of his face.
“Stop!” she screamed.
Everyone froze.
Richard stood below her.
He looked up.
“Vanessa, don't be stupid.”
Her face twisted.
“You said we'd leave together!”
Richard actually laughed.
And I watched Vanessa realize the truth.
She had betrayed everyone for a man who had planned to betray her.
“You used me,” she whispered.
Richard spread his hands.
“What did you think this was?”
Vanessa's eyes filled with rage.
Then she pointed the gun away from Adrian.
Straight at Richard.
Dad shouted.
A shot rang out.
Richard dropped.
May you like
And Vanessa screamed—
“Now everybody gets to hear who the father of my baby really is!”
