Chapter 11 - CLAIRE’S REAL PLAN

Claire had never planned to share the Vale empire with Samuel.

Nathan understood it first.

He saw the laptop open behind her.

A transfer screen.

Accounts moving.

Millions disappearing.

“Claire.”

She looked toward him.

Nathan’s face changed.

“You’re emptying Shepherd.”

Samuel turned.

“What?”

Claire smiled.

There was no warmth in it.

“Did you really think I spent two years pretending to love Dominic so I could hand everything to an old man with a revenge problem?”

Samuel’s expression darkened.

“You work for me.”

“No.”

Claire shook her head.

“I used you.”

Dominic almost admired the symmetry.

Samuel had used Nathan.

Claire had used Samuel.

Nathan had betrayed Dominic.

Everyone had believed they were the smartest person in the room.

Claire tapped the computer.

“By sunrise, the Vale accounts collapse.”

“Samuel takes the blame.”

“Nathan takes the blame.”

“Dominic looks insane.”

“And I disappear with enough money to never hear any of your names again.”

Samuel moved toward her.

Claire raised a weapon.

“Don’t.”

He stopped.

Nathan stared at her.

“You told me we were leaving together.”

Claire looked almost amused.

“Oh, Nathan.”

His face went still.

Dominic recognized the exact moment Nathan finally understood.

Claire had never loved him either.

Nathan asked,

“Was any of it real?”

Claire tilted her head.

“Does it matter?”

Nathan looked away.

“Yes.”

Claire shrugged.

“Then no.”

Samuel lunged toward the laptop.

Claire fired into the ceiling.

Dust rained down.

Harper screamed.

Mia pulled her close.

Dominic’s expression became lethal.

Claire pointed the weapon at Samuel.

“Back up.”

He did.

Claire reached for a portable drive attached to the computer.

Dominic spoke.

“You won’t get far.”

Claire looked at him.

“You still think this is your house.”

“It is.”

“Not anymore.”

She smiled.

“You know your biggest weakness, Dominic?”

“You believe loyalty can be bought by giving people a place beside you.”

Dominic glanced at Mia.

Then Nathan.

Then Daniel.

“No.”

Claire frowned.

Dominic continued.

“My weakness was believing people who stood beside me deserved trust forever.”

Nathan absorbed the words.

Claire smirked.

“Same thing.”

“No.”

Dominic stepped closer.

“Trust can be lost.”

Claire raised the gun toward him.

“Take one more step.”

Mia whispered,

“Dominic.”

He stopped.

Not because of Claire.

Because Harper was watching.

Samuel suddenly laughed.

Everyone looked at him.

Claire’s eyes narrowed.

“What?”

Samuel smiled.

“The transfer.”

Claire looked toward the screen.

Her smile vanished.

TRANSFER FAILED.

She clicked again.

FAILED.

Again.

FAILED.

Dominic looked toward Nathan.

Nathan was smiling.

Claire turned.

“What did you do?”

Nathan lifted one shoulder.

“You taught me something.”

“Never trust the person sleeping beside you.”

Claire’s face twisted.

Nathan had changed the authorization codes before going to the gate.

The money was frozen.

Claire aimed at him.

Samuel moved at the same instant.

Chaos exploded.

Dominic lunged toward Mia and Harper.

Daniel rushed Claire.

Nathan tackled Samuel.

The gun slid across the floor.

Mia kicked it beneath a cabinet.

Harper buried her face against her mother.

Samuel hit Nathan hard enough to send him backward.

Claire clawed toward the gun.

Daniel caught her wrist.

Dominic grabbed Samuel.

The two men crashed into the steel table.

Samuel was older.

Dominic was stronger.

But Samuel had spent eighteen years waiting for this moment.

Hatred gave him energy.

“You stole my son.”

He struck Dominic.

Dominic barely moved.

“No.”

Another blow.

“You stole my family.”

Dominic grabbed him by the coat.

“No.”

He slammed Samuel against the wall.

“You abandoned both.”

Nathan stood behind them.

Blood ran from his lip.

Samuel looked at him.

“Nathan.”

For a second, his voice became soft.

“My boy.”

Nathan stared at his father.

Samuel reached out.

“Help me.”

Nathan looked at Dominic.

Then at Mia holding Harper.

Then at Claire restrained on the floor.

Seventeen years of lies pressed down on him.

He stepped forward.

Samuel smiled.

Then Nathan took the restraints from Daniel.

And locked them around his father’s wrists.

Samuel stared at him.

Nathan’s voice broke.

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