Chapter 9 - The Reckoning Begins
Charles reached into his inner suit pocket and pulled out a sleek silver pen along with a folded document.
"As of eight o'clock this evening," Charles said, looking directly at Daniel, "the Whitmore Holdings board voted unanimously to freeze all subsidiary credit lines extended to your firm."
Daniel’s face drained of what little color remained.
"What?"
"The merger you were hoping to finalize with the Arden family required a thirty-million-dollar collateral guarantee," Charles continued, his tone matter-of-fact. "That guarantee was backed entirely by my personal estate."
He casually dropped the folded document onto the nearest linen-covered table.
"It has been revoked."
A collective murmur swept through the gathered guests.
Celeste’s eyes widened in horror. She snapped her head toward Daniel.
"What is he talking about, Daniel? You told me the Whitmore backing was non-revocable! You said you had full power of attorney over Nora’s trust!"
Daniel couldn't speak. His breath came in shallow, panicked gasps.
"He lied to you, Celeste," Nora said quietly, holding her sleeping, exhausted daughter close. "Just like he lied to me. He never owned anything. He was just allowed to manage what my father gave him."
Daniel stepped toward Nora, his hands trembling.
"Nora... please. We can talk about this in private. Think of Lucy! We can't destroy the family over an accident!"
"An accident?" Nora looked down at her stained dress, then at the blood on her fingers. "You called our daughter 'that child.' You told us we deserved to be thrown to the floor."
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She took a step back, standing firmly behind her father.
"There is no family left to destroy, Daniel."
