Chapter 5 - The Man Who Offered Her a Fortune and the Woman Who Refused It
Martin Ashford offered Meredith ten million dollars.
He did it through a lawyer.
“Walk away,” the lawyer said.
Meredith laughed.
“No.”
“You have a family.”
“Yes.”
“Your brother is vulnerable.”
“I know.”
“You could make his life secure forever.”
“I could.”
“Then take the money.”
She shook her head.
“I won't be bought.”
The lawyer sighed.
“He can hurt you.”
“So can you.”
“Meredith.”
“My answer is no.”
The lawyer left.
Adrian was waiting outside.
“You knew.”
“Yes.”
“You sent him?”
“No.”
“He offered me ten million.”
“I know.”
“You're not going to tell me to take it?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I know you won't.”
She smiled.
“Good answer.”
They had grown closer.
Slowly.
Not because of wealth.
Not because of danger.
Because of trust.
Adrian began showing her his softer side.
He cooked.
Poorly.
She teased him.
He let her.
He took Caleb to doctor appointments.
He fixed the broken heater in their apartment.
He never called it charity.
Meredith noticed.
One evening, Caleb said:
“I like him.”
Meredith stared.
“You've known him three weeks.”
“He fixes things.”
“So do you.”
“Not when they're rich.”
She laughed.
Then the attack came.
The Vale estate was breached.
Meredith was taken.
Adrian received one demand.
The Black Ledger.
He had it.
But the ledger alone was no longer enough.
The kidnappers wanted Meredith.
Adrian knew who was behind it.
Ashford.
He went to the meeting.
Alone.
Ashford smiled.
“You care about her.”
“Yes.”
“That makes you weak.”
“No.”
Adrian looked at him.
“It makes me certain.”
The exchange was recorded.
Meredith had secretly planted a tracker before she was taken.
Police arrived.
Ashford's men were arrested.
But Ashford escaped.
Meredith was rescued.
She found Adrian outside the warehouse.
“You came.”
“Of course.”
“You could have died.”
“So could you.”
She touched his face.
“Don't do that again.”
“I can't promise.”
She kissed him.
He froze.
She pulled away.
“That was a mistake.”
“No.”
“I think it was.”
“I don't.”
He kissed her again.
This time, she didn't pull away.
Their relationship became official.
And the public reaction was explosive.
A billionaire heir dating a former employee.
Then the news changed.
Photos emerged of Meredith climbing the roller coaster.
She became known as the woman who saved Lillian Vale.
She hated the attention.
Adrian supported her.
“You can ignore it.”
“I do.”
“Good.”
Then they discovered Ashford wasn't acting alone.
He was being financed by someone inside the Vale family.
Someone close.
Someone Adrian had trusted all his life.
His uncle Thomas Vale.
He had disappeared after Vincent's death.
Now he was back.
The evidence connected him to Gabriel.
And Gabriel to the Black Crown.
Adrian confronted him.
Thomas laughed.
“You've finally figured it out.”
“You ruined everything.”
“No.”
“I'll destroy you.”
“You sound like your father.”
Adrian stepped closer.
“I am nothing like him.”
Thomas smiled.
“You're worse.”
He revealed the final plan.
Lake View Grand was being sold.
The illegal assets would be transferred.
The Vale family's legitimate wealth would disappear.
Adrian would be blamed.
And Meredith would be killed as the final witness.
Thomas pointed toward the window.
“You brought the witness into the family.”
Adrian looked at Meredith.
“Yes.”
“And that was your mistake.”
Meredith stepped forward.
“No.”
May you like
Thomas looked at her.
“It was yours.”
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