Chapter 5 - The Mother Who Came BackMarcus traveled to North Carolina.
Elena went with him.
They found his mother.
Alive.
Older.
Tired.
She hugged him immediately.
“My boy.”
Marcus cried.
“You were dead.”
“No.”
“Why did you leave?”
“Because Jonathan would have killed you.”
She looked at Elena.
“And because your father asked me to disappear.”
Elena stepped forward.
“You knew me?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you ever meet me?”
“Because I was afraid.”
Marcus's mother explained.
Richard Ward and Marcus's father had worked together.
They discovered Jonathan's network.
They tried to stop him.
Jonathan retaliated.
He killed Marcus's father.
He threatened Marcus.
He forced his mother into hiding.
But Richard refused to abandon Elena.
He gave Marcus one instruction.
Stay with my daughter.
Protect her.
Love her if you can.
Marcus looked at Elena.
The words struck him.
“He knew.”
“Yes.”
“What?”
“That you would love her.”
Elena's eyes filled.
She took Marcus's hand.
Then his mother gave them another envelope.
Inside was a document.
Jonathan wasn't the true mastermind.
Someone else was.
A woman named Catherine Vale.
Elena's mother's sister.
Her aunt.
Catherine had been controlling Jonathan.
She wanted the company.
She wanted Elena dead.
And she had been watching Marcus for years.
That night, Catherine called.
“Congratulations.”
Elena answered.
“What do you want?”
“Everything.”
“You're not getting it.”
“I already have.”
“What?”
Catherine laughed.
“The board.”
Elena froze.
A hostile takeover had begun.
By morning, sixty percent of the board had voted against her.
Elena lost control of Ward Meridian.
Catherine became interim chair.
Marcus stared at the documents.
“This isn't over.”
Elena looked at him.
“No.”
May you like
She smiled.
“We fight.”
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