Chapter 7 - The Woman Who Refused to Be a Bargain
Elias Cross welcomed us like honored guests.
That was the most frightening part.
There were no guns pointed at us.
No shouting.
No threats.
He stood on the island mansion's balcony wearing a dark suit, silver hair perfectly combed.
“Mr. Mercer.”
Nathaniel stared.
“Elias.”
Elias smiled.
“Still angry.”
“You kidnapped my family.”
“Your family has been hiding from mine.”
I stepped forward.
“You wanted the key.”
His eyes moved to the locket around my neck.
“Yes.”
“You can have it.”
Nathaniel turned toward me.
“No.”
I looked at him.
“Trust me.”
He hesitated.
Then stepped back.
I walked toward Elias.
He studied me.
“You look like your mother.”
“So I'm told.”
“She made an extraordinary sacrifice.”
“Did she?”
“Yes.”
“Then let her go.”
Elias smiled.
“Not until you open the trust.”
“I don't know how.”
“You do.”
I touched the locket.
“Maybe.”
He gestured toward the house.
“My staff will show you your mother.”
We entered.
My mother sat in a room overlooking the sea.
Evan was beside her.
She looked tired.
But alive.
I ran to her.
She hugged me.
“I'm sorry.”
I cried.
“I hate that you keep saying that.”
“I know.”
Evan looked at Nathaniel.
“My son.”
Nathaniel knelt beside him.
“I thought you were dead.”
“I wanted you to.”
“Why?”
“Because I knew they'd use you to find me.”
Nathaniel's voice cracked.
“I searched for you for years.”
“I know.”
They embraced.
For a few minutes, nothing else mattered.
Then Elias entered.
“Touching.”
Nathaniel stood.
“You've lost.”
Elias laughed.
“Not yet.”
He placed a folder on the table.
Inside was a marriage contract.
Between Daniel and Madeline.
I looked at it.
“Why?”
“Because the Blackridge alliance requires stability.”
“You destroyed stability.”
“No.”
He stared at me.
“I exposed weakness.”
He turned to Daniel.
“Your father was weak.”
Daniel's jaw tightened.
“You murdered him.”
“I protected our family.”
Madeline entered.
“No.”
Everyone turned.
She walked in wearing a simple black dress.
No diamonds.
No bracelet.
No engagement symbol.
“I was your family,” she said.
Elias frowned.
“You are my granddaughter.”
“And you used me as currency.”
He stared.
Madeline walked toward Daniel.
“I chose you because I thought you'd save my family.”
Daniel looked at her.
“I tried.”
“I know.”
She smiled sadly.
“But you're still in love with her.”
Daniel looked at me.
He didn't answer.
He didn't need to.
Elias grew furious.
“This is pathetic.”
Madeline turned.
“No.”
Her voice was suddenly strong.
“What's pathetic is needing every person you love to fear you.”
Elias raised his hand.
Two guards moved.
Nathaniel stepped between them.
Madeline didn't move.
Neither did I.
Then Daniel did something none of us expected.
He walked toward Elias.
“You wanted the Mercer key.”
Elias smiled.
“Yes.”
Daniel reached into his jacket.
Pulled out a flash drive.
“The key isn't in her locket.”
Elias frowned.
“Then where?”
“In me.”
Nathaniel looked at him.
Daniel continued.
“My father taught me the sequence years ago.”
Elias stared.
“Why?”
“Because he wanted to control me.”
Daniel's voice hardened.
“He made me memorize it.”
Elias stepped closer.
“Give it to me.”
Daniel shook his head.
“No.”
Elias raised his weapon.
I moved.
Nathaniel moved faster.
The room erupted.
Guards scattered.
Glass shattered.
Madeline grabbed my mother.
Evan was pulled behind a sofa.
Daniel tackled Elias.
Nathaniel disarmed one guard.
The fight lasted less than a minute.
Then everything stopped.
Elias was on the floor.
Daniel stood over him.
“You should have realized something.”
Elias looked up.
“What?”
Daniel smiled.
“I was never your son.”
Elias froze.
“My father adopted me.”
“What?”
“My biological father was Evan Mercer.”
I stared.
Nathaniel went still.
Daniel looked at him.
“You're my uncle.”
The revelation struck everyone silent.
Evan whispered, “Daniel?”
Daniel nodded.
“Mom never told me.”
My mother covered her mouth.
“Oh, Daniel.”
He looked at me.
“I didn't know either.”
Nathaniel stared.
His entire family had been scattered by one man's lies.
Elias had manipulated bloodlines.
Changed names.
Arranged marriages.
Destroyed identities.
All for control.
But now the truth had surfaced.
Sirens sounded in the distance.
Madeline smiled.
“I called the authorities.”
Elias looked furious.
“You betrayed me.”
She answered quietly.
“No.”
“I finally stopped obeying you.”
The authorities entered minutes later.
Elias Cross was arrested.
His empire began collapsing before sunset.
But the final secret still remained.
The Archive.
May you like
It was hidden somewhere beneath the island.
And only the locket could open it.
