Chapter 7 - THE LAST VANCE SECRET
Richard expected fear.
Instead, Mabel smiled.
“You made one mistake.”
He frowned.
“What?”
“You still think I came here without a plan.”
Harris entered behind him.
Federal agents followed.
Richard's expression collapsed.
Elias stepped away.
Selina appeared in the doorway.
Edward stood beside her.
And finally, Mabel's mother entered.
Richard stared at her.
“You.”
She nodded.
“You should have finished the job eight years ago.”
Richard’s face hardened.
“You were supposed to die.”
“So was Edward.”
Mabel looked between them.
“Tell me everything.”
Her mother stepped forward.
“Richard didn't arrange your father’s death.”
Mabel frowned.
“Then who did?”
“Your father staged it.”
Mabel stared at Edward.
He nodded.
“I had discovered the offshore accounts.”
Richard laughed.
“You discovered nothing.”
Edward looked at him.
“I discovered your real business.”
Richard’s smile faded.
Mabel turned.
“What business?”
Her mother answered.
“Richard had been buying distressed companies, stripping their assets, and destroying the employees who stood in his way.”
Mabel's stomach turned.
“He used our trust.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because your family had the reputation and capital he needed.”
Mabel looked at Elias.
“And you?”
Elias stepped forward.
“I was hired to infiltrate his operation.”
“By my mother?”
“Yes.”
“Then why marry me?”
“I wasn't supposed to.”
Richard interrupted.
“He became weak.”
Elias turned.
“You ordered me to kill her.”
Mabel froze.
Richard smiled.
“I did.”
Silence.
Mabel stared at Elias.
“Is that true?”
Elias nodded.
“Yes.”
Mabel's heart shattered.
“But you didn't.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I loved you.”
Richard laughed.
“Love.”
He looked disgusted.
“That was always the problem.”
Harris stepped forward.
“Richard Vance, you're under arrest.”
Richard didn't move.
Instead, he looked at Mabel.
“You think this ends with me?”
Mabel said nothing.
Richard smiled.
“The trust still contains a clause.”
“What clause?”
“Your daughter cannot inherit until she turns twenty-five.”
Mabel stared.
Richard continued.
“Until then, the trustee controls everything.”
Mabel's expression changed.
“Who is the trustee?”
Richard smiled.
“Elias.”
Elias looked shocked.
“That was never part of the agreement.”
Richard laughed.
“Read the original trust.”
Mabel grabbed the document.
The name was there.
Elias Mercer.
Trustee.
But beneath it was another clause.
Mabel read it twice.
Then she smiled.
Richard noticed.
“What?”
“You didn't read the entire document.”
“What?”
“The trustee can be removed by the beneficiary's mother if fraud or coercion is proven.”
Richard's face went pale.
Mabel looked at Harris.
“And we have evidence.”
Richard backed away.
“No.”
Mabel held up the flash drive.
“Eight years of evidence.”
His expression finally cracked.
“You think prison will stop me?”
“No.”
Mabel stepped closer.
“I think the truth will.”
Richard lunged toward the door.
Federal agents stopped him.
As they handcuffed him, Richard looked at Elias.
“You were never family.”
Elias stared back.
“No.”
Then he looked at Mabel.
“But she was.”
Richard was taken away.
For the first time, the room became quiet.
Mabel looked at Elias.
“You need to tell me everything.”
“I will.”
“Not tonight.”
He nodded.
“Whenever you're ready.”
Mabel touched her stomach.
“My daughter comes first.”
Elias smiled sadly.
“I know.”
But before anyone could leave, Harris received a call.
His expression changed.
“What?”
He listened.
Then looked at Mabel.
“We found Dr. Shaw.”
“Where?”
“His clinic.”
“Alive?”
Harris hesitated.
“Yes.”
“Then what's wrong?”
“He asked to speak to you.”
“Why?”
Harris lowered his voice.
“He says the pregnancy wasn't the only thing Richard manipulated.”
Mabel froze.
May you like
“What else?”
“He says your daughter was never supposed to survive.”
