Chapter 7 - THE FAMILY SECRET
Marcus Vale was Elena’s uncle.
The revelation explained everything and nothing.
Victoria told Elena the truth.
Marcus had spent decades building a financial network through legitimate real estate and hidden criminal money.
Thomas discovered it.
Victoria helped him gather evidence.
Marcus found out.
“He told me he would destroy everyone I loved.”
Victoria’s hands trembled.
“I believed him.”
“So you disappeared.”
“Yes.”
“And Thomas?”
“I didn’t know he survived.”
Elena stared at her mother.
“You both abandoned me separately.”
Victoria flinched.
“Yes.”
“At least you admit it.”
Elena stood.
Victoria grabbed her hand.
“There’s something else.”
Elena looked down.
“What?”
“Marcus didn’t invest in your company because he loved you.”
“I figured that out.”
“He needed Mercer Global.”
“For what?”
“To clean what remained of the old money.”
Elena pulled her hand away.
“That’s impossible.”
“Check the acquisitions between 2011 and 2018.”
Elena did.
Forty-eight hours later, she found it.
Seven acquisitions.
All recommended through outside advisory groups.
All connected indirectly to Marcus.
Mercer Global had unknowingly purchased contaminated assets.
Elena felt sick.
Marcus hadn’t simply watched her empire grow.
He had used it.
And if federal investigators ever uncovered the transactions, Elena would be standing at the center of them.
That evening, Marcus called.
“You’ve been busy.”
Elena’s blood went cold.
“How do you know?”
“Because Victoria called me.”
Elena went silent.
Marcus chuckled.
“You still don’t understand.”
May you like
“Understand what?”
“Your mother never stopped working for me.”
