Chapter 11 - The Man Blake Really WasThe biological records contained one name Emily had never expected.
Charles Carson.
Blake was his son.
But not biologically.
Emily stared at the test results.
“Then who is Blake's father?”
Thomas answered:
“Victor Hale.”
The name from the cemetery.
The trustee.
The man who had supposedly died.
Emily looked at Adrian.
“Victor was your father's partner.”
Adrian nodded.
“And Charles stole the company from him.”
“Yes.”
“Then Blake was raised by Charles.”
“Yes.”
Emily felt sick.
“Why hide Blake's identity?”
Thomas looked at the trust documents.
“Because Victor's descendants had a claim to the original company.”
“So Blake had no legal right to the Carson shares?”
“Not the original shares.”
Emily stared at the papers.
Blake had spent his whole life believing he was the heir.
Charles had encouraged him to believe it.
But legally, Blake was an outsider.
A weapon.
A son raised to recover an empire that did not belong to his family.
Emily suddenly understood Blake's obsession with Carson Meridian.
He wasn't protecting a company.
He was chasing an inheritance that had never been his.
She called him.
He answered immediately.
“What do you want?”
“I know.”
Silence.
“Know what?”
“Victor Hale was your father.”
The silence became absolute.
Then Blake laughed.
“You've lost your mind.”
“I have the DNA records.”
His voice changed.
“Where did you get those?”
“The same place your father got yours.”
Another silence.
Emily continued.
“You never belonged to Carson Meridian.”
He whispered:
“Don't.”
“Charles used you.”
“Stop.”
“He needed someone to marry me.”
“No.”
“He needed my trust.”
Blake shouted:
“Stop!”
Emily pulled the phone away.
She waited.
When he calmed, she said:
“Did you ever love me?”
He answered after several seconds.
“Yes.”
“Then why?”
“I thought if I gave Charles what he wanted, he'd leave you alone.”
“You divorced me.”
“I was trying to protect you.”
“You brought Sienna to the divorce.”
“I had no choice.”
“You always had a choice.”
Blake said nothing.
Emily's voice became quiet.
“You let me believe I was worthless.”
“I never thought you were worthless.”
“You acted like it.”
He breathed out.
“I was afraid.”
Again.
That word.
Fear.
Everyone had been afraid.
Her grandmother.
Adrian.
Sienna.
Even Blake.
Except Charles.
Emily asked:
“Where are you?”
“At the office.”
“You're alone?”
“Yes.”
“Then listen carefully.”
She lowered her voice.
“Tomorrow morning, you're going to help me take down Charles.”
Blake laughed bitterly.
“You think I'll help you?”
“Yes.”
“Why would I?”
“Because if Charles falls, you lose nothing.”
A pause.
“You've already lost your company.”
Emily replied:
“No.”
“You're going to lose everything.”
Emily corrected him.
“You're not losing the company.”
“What?”
“You were never its rightful owner.”
Blake went silent.
Emily ended the call.
The next morning, Blake arrived at the brownstone.
Emily let him in.
He looked exhausted.
Not the polished CEO from magazine covers.
Just a man.
A broken one.
“Where are the children?”
“Safe.”
“Can I see them?”
Emily hesitated.
Then nodded.
Mia appeared first.
She looked at Blake.
“Are you Daddy?”
Blake stopped.
He looked at Emily.
She said nothing.
Mia frowned.
“My Daddy is Adrian.”
Blake's face collapsed.
Emily watched him.
He knelt.
“I know.”
“Did you lie to Mommy?”
Blake nodded.
“Yes.”
Mia stepped backward.
“You're bad.”
He closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
The boy's words hurt more than any courtroom judgment.
Blake stood.
“I know what Charles plans.”
Emily looked at him.
“What?”
“He is going to trigger the debt covenants.”
“Meaning?”
“Carson Meridian will default.”
Thomas swore.
“When?”
“Friday.”
Today was Wednesday.
Forty-eight hours.
Emily asked:
“How do we stop it?”
Blake looked at her.
“We don't.”
Emily frowned.
“What?”
“We let it happen.”
Thomas stared.
“That makes no sense.”
Blake opened a folder.
“The debt is held by three banks.”
He smiled faintly.
“But the banks don't actually control it.”
Emily understood.
“Someone does.”
Blake nodded.
“Charles.”
“Then what's his goal?”
“To force a bankruptcy.”
“So he can buy the company back cheaply.”
“Yes.”
Emily looked at Blake.
“And you?”
“I disappear.”
“Why?”
“Because Charles needs a Carson to trigger the final clause.”
Emily stared.
“You.”
Blake nodded.
“If I die, the succession changes.”
She froze.
“What do you mean?”
May you like
Blake looked at her.
“He plans to kill me Friday night.”
