Chapter 14 - The Betrayal
Natalie found her mother’s old files in a storage unit she had not opened since Elaine’s death.
Most were ordinary.
Taxes.
Medical bills.
Photographs.
At the bottom of one box was a Mercer Foundation employment file.
Elaine had worked as Margaret’s executive assistant.
Twenty-eight years earlier.
During the exact period of Margaret’s affair with Jonathan.
Natalie sat on the floor.
Daniel read beside her.
Then they found a letter.
Elaine had written it but never mailed it.
Richard,
Margaret thinks Jonathan is the father.
He is not.
Daniel stopped reading.
Natalie stared at him.
The next line:
You deserve to know the child is yours.
Daniel’s pulse pounded.
Everything changed again.
Margaret had lied about Jonathan being his biological father.
Or believed something false.
Elaine knew the truth.
Why?
Because she had helped Margaret hide the affair.
Medical records confirmed Richard and Margaret had briefly reconciled during the conception window.
A stored genetic sample from Richard existed in a medical research archive.
Daniel submitted a DNA comparison.
The result would take hours.
Before it arrived, Marcus called.
He had found Jonathan.
At an airport.
Preparing to leave the country.
Federal agents moved.
Jonathan escaped before they reached the private terminal.
Someone had warned him.
Only five people knew.
Brooks.
Daniel.
Natalie.
Marcus.
Margaret.
Margaret was under surveillance.
Daniel looked at Marcus.
“You told him.”
Marcus went pale.
“No.”
“You’re the only one—”
“I didn’t.”
Then Natalie’s phone rang.
Brooks.
Her voice was cold.
“Daniel, step away from Marcus.”
Daniel froze.
Brooks continued.
“We found payments.”
Marcus closed his eyes.
Jonathan had paid him $400,000 two days earlier.
Daniel stared at the man who had been his brother in everything but blood.
“Why?”
Marcus started crying.
“My daughter.”
Daniel stopped.
Marcus’s six-year-old daughter had a rare medical condition.
Treatment overseas cost hundreds of thousands.
Jonathan offered the money.
“In exchange for what?”
“Information.”
“How many times?”
Marcus could not answer.
Daniel understood.
More than once.
Marcus had helped them.
And betrayed them.
Repeatedly.
That was why Jonathan was always one step ahead.
Daniel wanted to hit him.
Natalie stopped him.
“Not worth it.”
Marcus looked at her.
“I’m sorry.”
Natalie replied:
“People keep saying that after they destroy someone.”
Marcus lowered his head.
Federal agents arrested him for obstruction.
The betrayal devastated their remaining plan.
Worse followed.
The DNA result arrived.
Richard Mercer was Daniel’s biological father.
Jonathan had spent Daniel’s entire life allowing everyone to believe otherwise.
Why?
Natalie understood first.
“Because if Richard believed Jonathan might be your father, Richard would hesitate.”
Daniel stared at her.
“Hesitate about what?”
“Destroying him.”
Jonathan had weaponized uncertainty.
A lie lasting thirty-five years.
The next morning, Natalie and Daniel entered the emergency board meeting.
The valid trust was ready.
The votes were ready.
They were going to stop Jonathan.
Then federal agents entered the room.
Not for Jonathan.
For Natalie.
An arrest warrant had been issued.
Charges:
Financial fraud.
Evidence tampering.
Conspiracy.
And the murder of Samuel Price.
Daniel stood.
“He’s alive.”
The agent looked confused.
“Samuel Price was found dead forty minutes ago.”
Natalie stared at Daniel.
They had spoken to Price only the previous afternoon.
May you like
Someone had killed him.
And placed Natalie’s fingerprints on the weapon.
