Chapter 10 - Evelyn’s Wedding Gift
Dr. Mercer was Caleb’s father.
Sarah confirmed it.
Years earlier, Mercer had helped hide Sarah after Charles discovered she was pregnant with Gabriel’s child. Years later, Sarah and Mercer became close.
Caleb was born from that relationship.
Mercer had been told Sarah died.
Just like Nora.
Charles had built a family out of separate lies.
Mercer’s voice shook on the phone.
“I didn’t know Caleb existed.”
“Bring him back.”
“I will.”
“Now.”
“Charles is here.”
Roman took the phone.
“Put him on.”
Charles answered.
“Roman.”
“Let the boy go.”
“I intend to.”
“What do you want?”
“You.”
Roman looked at Nora.
“No.”
Nora grabbed the phone.
“You don’t go anywhere alone.”
Charles laughed.
“That sounded almost domestic.”
Roman ended the call.
They found the yacht.
Evelyn insisted on coming.
“No,” Roman said.
“He’s my father.”
“That’s exactly why.”
She handed him a small jewelry box.
“My wedding gift.”
Roman opened it.
Inside was a flash drive.
“What is this?”
“Every recording I made of him for three years.”
Roman stared.
“Why didn’t you use it?”
“I was afraid.”
Nora looked at her.
“And now?”
Evelyn’s eyes went to Caleb’s photograph.
“Now I know what fear costs other people.”
Roman took the drive.
“Thank you.”
It was the first kindness he had shown her since the wedding.
Evelyn almost cried.
The yacht sat dark at the marina.
Roman boarded with Dominic.
Nora followed despite orders.
“You’re impossible,” Roman whispered.
“You employ me.”
“Not anymore.”
She stared.
“You fired me?”
“I’m trying to keep you alive.”
“That’s still firing me.”
“Fine. You’re suspended.”
“Better.”
Even Dominic smiled.
They found Caleb with Mercer below deck.
Safe.
Mercer raised his hands.
“I’m not with Charles.”
Roman examined him.
“Prove it.”
Mercer gave him a second flash drive.
“Charles’s medical records.”
“What matters?”
“He’s dying.”
Nora stared.
“Cancer?”
“Pancreatic. Months, maybe weeks.”
Roman understood.
Charles was not building a future.
He was destroying everyone else’s before his ended.
A shot rang out above.
Dominic moved.
Roman shoved Nora and Caleb behind cover.
Charles’s voice came through the yacht speakers.
“You keep choosing them, Roman.”
Roman looked upward.
“Yes.”
The answer came without hesitation.
Nora heard it.
Charles laughed.
“That’s why you’ll lose.”
Smoke filled the lower deck.
Fire.
They escaped through a hatch.
Mercer carried Caleb.
Nora climbed.
Roman stayed behind to find Charles.
She grabbed his arm.
“No.”
“Nora.”
“You promised Caleb you’d have dinner with us.”
Roman stared.
“Did I?”
“You said you’d remember.”
Another explosion rocked the boat.
Roman followed her.
They jumped onto the dock.
The yacht burned.
No sign of Charles.
Then Dominic saw a speedboat leaving the marina.
A figure stood inside.
Charles.
Beside him sat Sarah.
Nora screamed.
Her mother had been taken.
Charles called.
“Pier Nine. Midnight tomorrow.”
Roman answered.
“You’re running out of places.”
“No. I’m returning to the only one that matters.”
“What do you want?”
“To finish the night your parents interrupted twenty-two years ago.”
The line disconnected.
Roman looked at Sarah’s location tracker.
Moving.
Then stopping.
Not Pier Nine.
The Calder mansion.
Roman frowned.
“That’s impossible.”
They drove back.
The estate was empty.
Inside the ballroom, wedding decorations still remained.
Evelyn stood beneath the chandelier.
Alone.
Roman approached.
“Where is everyone?”
“I sent them away.”
“Why?”
She looked at Nora.
“My father called.”
Roman’s expression hardened.
“What did he say?”
Evelyn held out an envelope.
“He told me to give Nora this.”
Nora opened it.
Inside was a marriage certificate.
Sarah Hayes.
Charles Sterling.
And beneath the witnesses was a third signature.
Vincent Calder.
Nora looked at Roman.
Evelyn whispered, “There’s another page.”
Nora removed it.
A handwritten agreement.
If Sarah ever left Charles, any child born to her would legally become property of a private trust controlled by Sterling Holdings.
Caleb’s name had been added recently.
Roman’s face went cold.
Then the mansion intercom activated.
Charles’s voice filled the ballroom.
May you like
“Thank you for gathering everyone exactly where I wanted them.”
Every door locked at once.
