THE HEIR'S REVENGE

chapter 14

"What did she say?" I asked when Brandon returned.

"She said you'll regret this," Brandon reported. "Said her mother in-law has something that will destroy you, and when it comes out, you'll beg for her forgiveness."

"Her mother in-law has nothing but stolen money and hidden crimes," I said, but something cold settled in my stomach. Victoria was too smart to make empty threats through her daughter.

My phone buzzed. Gerald.

"Ethan, I need you to come to my office immediately," the lawyer said. "I've found something in the Pierce Industries contracts that you need to see. It's about the partnership agreement between your grandfather and Marcus Pierce."

"What about it?"

"There's a clause," Gerald said slowly, like he was still processing what he'd found. "If evidence of embezzlement is discovered, the wronged party can claim full ownership of the company. But there's a time limit. The claim must be filed within thirty days of discovery."

"When did my grandfather discover the embezzlement?" I asked, already dreading the answer.

"According to the dates on these documents, twenty-eight days ago. We have two days to file, or Victoria keeps everything she stole."

I ended the call and looked at Brandon. "We need to move faster. Call Maxwell, tell him we need everything he has by tomorrow morning."

As Brandon made the call, I walked to the window overlooking the campus. Students moved between classes, laughing, normal, unaware of the battle being fought in boardrooms and back offices. My phone buzzed with a text from an unknown number. I opened it, and my blood turned cold.

A photo of Lily at school, taken today. She was playing on the swings, smiling, unaware she was being watched. The message below was simple: "Some secrets should stay buried. Stop digging or she pays the price."

I showed Brandon the phone. His face went pale. "They're threatening Lily?"

"Get to her school now," I ordered. "Don't let her out of your sight. Take two of your friends if you need to, but make sure she's protected."

Brandon ran for the door. I called Henry immediately.

"They're threatening Lily," I said as soon as he answered. "Someone sent a photo of her at school."

"I'll have security there in five minutes," Henry promised. "Should we pull her out of school?"

"No," I decided. "That shows fear. Double her security but keep it discrete. And Henry? Find out who took that photo. Check every security camera near the school."

While Henry handled security, I called Maxwell. "How quickly can you get me everything on Victoria Pierce?"

"Twenty-four hours for a complete package," he said. "But Ethan, if they're making threats—"

"They're desperate," I interrupted. "Which means we're close to something they don't want found. Keep digging. Whatever they're hiding is worth threatening a child over."

I stayed in the security office, watching the monitors as Brandon arrived at Lily's school. He positioned himself where he could see the playground, and I saw him talking to two other young men—probably his friends. They spread out, creating a protective perimeter without being obvious about it.

Gerald called again. "I'm filing preliminary paperwork now to preserve our claim. But Ethan, I've found something else. Victoria Pierce filed for divorce from Marcus this morning."

"What?" I sat up straighter. "Why would she divorce him now?"

"In the divorce filing, she claims Marcus has been hiding assets. She wants half of everything, including his share of Pierce Industries." Gerald's voice was grim. "If the divorce goes through before we expose the embezzlement, she'll walk away with millions legally."

"She's trying to cash out," I realized. "She knows we're onto her, so she's grabbing what she can and running."

"There's more," Gerald continued. "She's asking for an emergency hearing. Tomorrow morning. If the judge grants temporary orders, she could freeze Marcus's assets by tomorrow afternoon."

I stood up, pacing the small office. Victoria was playing three moves ahead, just like always. But she'd made one mistake—she'd threatened Lily. That wasn't just strategy; that was desperation. And desperate people make mistakes.

"Gerald, can you get me a meeting with Marcus Pierce?" I asked.

"Marcus? But he's—"

"He's Victoria's victim too," I said. "He doesn't know about the embezzlement yet. He doesn't know his wife has been stealing from him for years. But he's about to find out."

"That's... risky," Gerald said carefully. "Marcus might not believe you. He might even warn Victoria."

"Or he might help us," I countered. "He built that company from nothing. You think he'll let Victoria take half of it after she stole millions?"

Gerald was quiet for a moment. "I can arrange a meeting. Tonight, after business hours. His office or neutral ground?"

"Neutral ground," I decided. "Somewhere Victoria won't have eyes."

After ending the call, I watched the security monitors one more time. Lily was in her classroom now, safe with Brandon watching from outside. She had no idea her world was about to change again, that the people who killed her parents—or at least made her think they were dead—were threatening her now.

My phone buzzed with another text from the unknown number: "Final warning. Stop or everyone you love suffers."

I typed back a simple response: "Try it and see what happens."

Then I called Maxwell one more time. "Change of plans. I need everything you have by tonight. Everything."

"That's impossible—"

"Then make it possible," I said. "Triple your team if you have to. Money is no object. But I need enough evidence to destroy Victoria Pierce by morning."

"Understood," Maxwell said after a pause. "We'll make it happen."

I left the security office and walked across campus to my grandfather's memorial garden—a small space with a fountain and bench that the university had dedicated to him. I sat on the bench, looking at his name carved in stone.

"I found them, Grandfather," I said quietly. "The ones who destroyed our family. And tomorrow, I'm going to destroy them right back."

The fountain bubbled peacefully, but storm clouds gathered on the horizon. By tomorrow, either Victoria Pierce would be finished, or she'd destroy what was left of my family.

I wouldn't let her win. Not again.