CHAPTER 11 — The Brother Behind the Curtain
CHAPTER 11 — The Brother Behind the Curtain
Alexander stared at Richard.
“You helped Vanessa.”
“I introduced her to Dr. Hale.”
“Why?”
“Because you were going to marry Eleanor.”
“That was my decision.”
“It would have divided the company.”
“No. It would have returned the company to its rightful owners.”
Richard laughed.
“You sound noble now, but you enjoyed the money.”
Alexander could not deny it.
Richard continued.
“Father spent his life protecting us. I did the same.”
“You kidnapped my daughter.”
“Vanessa handled that.”
“You imprisoned Eleanor.”
“She refused to surrender the contracts.”
Clara’s eyes burned with anger.
“You destroyed my mother’s life.”
Richard glanced at her.
“She should have accepted the settlement.”
“She wanted her child.”
“She wanted revenge.”
Alexander moved slightly closer.
Richard tightened his grip on the gun.
“Don’t.”
“You won’t shoot me.”
“Why not?”
“Because you need my signature to transfer the company.”
Richard smiled.
“Finally, the brilliant Alexander Whitmore understands.”
He placed a folder on the dresser.
“Sign over your voting shares. Then Clara walks away, Eleanor receives enough money to disappear, and Amelia stays with Margaret.”
“No.”
Richard aimed at Clara.
“Then she dies first.”
Alexander looked at the document case.
Slowly, he bent down.
Richard watched him.
Alexander lifted the case and placed it on the dresser.
Then he reached for the pen.
Clara shook her head.
“Don’t do it.”
“It’s only money.”
“It’s your life’s work.”
“My life is not the company.”
Richard pushed the papers forward.
Alexander signed the first page.
Then the second.
Richard relaxed slightly.
That was his mistake.
Alexander hurled the metal document case into Richard’s arm.
The gun fired into the ceiling.
Clara kicked the weapon across the floor.
Alexander tackled his brother.
They crashed into the old crib.
Richard grabbed a broken wooden rail and struck Alexander across the face.
Clara reached for the gun.
Richard knocked her down and ran toward the hallway.
Before he could escape, Noah and Nicholas appeared at the top of the stairs.
Alexander’s blood turned cold.
The boys had followed Mrs. Turner into the estate after refusing to stay in the car.
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Richard grabbed Noah and pressed the broken rail against his throat.
“Let me leave,” he said, “or your son pays for your conscience.”
