Chapter 8 - CLAIRE'S FILE
Nathan's mother had spent the last year of her life collecting evidence.
Robert knew because she confronted him.
She discovered Jonathan Mercer was Nathan's biological father.
She learned Charles had altered birth records and trust documents.
She planned to expose him.
Then she died.
Official cause: complications from lymphoma treatment.
But Robert said Claire had called him the night before her death.
"She told me Charles knew she had copied the trust ledger."
Nathan stared at him.
"And you said nothing?"
Robert looked ashamed.
"Charles paid me to stay quiet about everything."
"Including my mother?"
"Yes."
Nathan lunged.
Grace caught his arm.
"Nathan."
He stopped inches from Robert.
Robert whispered, "I was a coward."
Nathan's voice shook.
"You were rich."
There was a difference.
Robert gave them the location of Claire's old files.
A private bank vault under her maiden name.
Inside was a ledger.
Letters.
Medical records.
And a sealed envelope addressed to Nathan.
His hands shook as he opened it.
My sweet boy,
If you are reading this, I failed to tell you the truth while I was alive.
Nathan sat down.
Grace stood behind him.
Claire wrote that she had loved Jonathan Mercer before marrying Charles.
Jonathan was married too.
Their affair ended badly.
When Claire became pregnant, Charles offered protection.
He promised to raise Nathan as his own.
Years later Claire discovered why.
Charles wanted Jonathan's shares.
Nathan's existence threatened that transfer.
So Charles erased Jonathan's paternity.
Claire stayed silent because Charles threatened to expose her and take Nathan.
Then she wrote:
I have spent years telling myself silence protected you. It did not. It protected Charles.
Grace started crying.
Nathan kept reading.
The final paragraph said:
There is one person I trust if I cannot finish this. Samuel Price knows where the original Mercer trust is hidden.
Nathan called Samuel immediately.
The attorney arrived within an hour.
He looked devastated when Nathan showed him the letter.
"Your mother made me promise not to give you anything unless Charles was dead and you were in immediate danger of losing the company."
Nathan laughed bitterly.
"That seems specific."
Samuel placed a sealed envelope on the table.
"She knew Charles."
On the front were four handwritten words.
FOR NATHAN. BURN IT DOWN.
Inside was the original Mercer trust.
Not the altered version.
Jonathan Mercer had left controlling interest to any biological child proven by DNA.
Robert and Nathan.
Together.
Charles had never legally owned control.
Neither did the current board.
Nathan looked at Samuel.
"Can we use this?"
"If authenticated, yes."
"How fast?"
"Fast enough to stop Robert's transfer to Ashford Capital."
Grace frowned.
"What transfer?"
Samuel looked at her.
"The board vote wasn't only about removing Nathan."
May you like
He opened another document.
"Tomorrow morning, Robert plans to sell Cole Meridian's controlling assets to Victoria's father."
