Chapter 15 - SamuelSamuel Reed looked nothing like a dead man.
He looked powerful.
Healthy.
Prepared.
He carried no weapon.
He didn't need one.
The fear in the room belonged entirely to us.
“You caused all of this,” I said.
Samuel smiled.
“No.”
“I saw the accounts.”
“Money moves.”
“My father died.”
“Your father made poor choices.”
“You ordered his murder.”
His expression didn't change.
“I ordered a problem removed.”
Daniel stepped forward.
“You killed my father too.”
Samuel looked at him.
“You were never supposed to remember.”
Daniel froze.
Samuel smiled.
“That was your mother's job.”
“Margaret worked for you.”
“Margaret worked for herself.”
“What about Peter?”
“Peter was useful.”
“And my mother?”
Samuel's eyes hardened.
“She was collateral.”
My heart broke.
“You destroyed her life.”
“She survived.”
“Because you were afraid of her.”
“Because she knew too much.”
Richard stepped between us.
“Enough.”
Samuel looked at him.
“You should have joined us.”
“I chose Thomas.”
“And look where that got him.”
Richard clenched his fists.
Samuel turned to me.
“Your father was always sentimental.”
“He loved me.”
“He loved your mother.”
“He loved justice.”
Samuel laughed.
“Justice is a luxury for people who can't buy protection.”
I felt a coldness spread through me.
“You think you won.”
“I know I did.”
“Then why are you here?”
Samuel's smile faded.
“Because you are about to inherit everything.”
He gestured toward the papers.
“And I want it back.”
“You can't.”
“I can.”
“How?”
He nodded toward Daniel.
“Through the marriage contract.”
My blood froze.
“What marriage contract?”
Samuel smiled.
“The one you signed when you married Daniel.”
I stared at my husband.
Daniel looked horrified.
“I've never seen it.”
“Of course not.”
Samuel pulled out a document.
“Margaret arranged the terms.”
I read it.
My heart dropped.
If I inherited the company while married, control would be split.
But if I divorced Daniel, the transfer became absolute.
I looked at Samuel.
“You wanted me to stay married.”
“Yes.”
“Then why did Margaret want me to sign away the house?”
“Because Margaret wanted the money.”
“And you?”
“I wanted control.”
I understood.
Everyone had different motives.
Margaret wanted wealth.
Samuel wanted power.
Peter wanted revenge.
But they all needed me contained.
I looked at Daniel.
He had no idea about the contract.
Samuel saw my expression.
“You married into this family willingly.”
Daniel shook his head.
“I didn't know.”
Samuel smiled.
“No one ever does.”
Then he pulled out another document.
A divorce agreement.
Already prepared.
My name was typed at the top.
Daniel's beside it.
Samuel placed a pen on the table.
“Sign.”
I laughed.
“You think I'm afraid of you?”
“Yes.”
He looked at me.
“You should be.”
I shook my head.
“No.”
I picked up the pen.
Samuel smiled.
Then I tore the divorce agreement in half.
His expression changed.
“You've made a mistake.”
“No.”
I looked at Daniel.
“We were manipulated.”
Then I turned back to Samuel.
“So I am done playing by your rules.”
Suddenly, the bank alarm began screaming.
Police flooded the hallway.
Samuel spun around.
Victor smiled.
“I gave them the vault coordinates.”
Samuel looked at him.
“You betrayed me.”
Victor shrugged.
“I've been waiting twenty-seven years.”
Samuel was arrested.
But before the police took him away, he leaned close to me.
“You still don't know the worst part.”
“What?”
He smiled.
“Your father did not die trying to save you.”
May you like
I stared.
“He died trying to save Daniel.”
