Chapter 3 - The Bloodline War
The news hit the headlines the next morning like a tidal wave.
BILLIONAIRE PHARMA KING OUSTED — CUSTODY BATTLE ERUPTS OVER NEWBORN TWINS
Sylvie sat in the sunlit nursery, nursing Clara while tears ran down her cheeks as she read the morning papers on her tablet. The articles painted Damon as an unstable megalomaniac who had lost his mind and threatened his board, while portraying her father, Arthur Montgomery, as a concerned grandfather seeking to rescue his daughter and grandchildren from a dangerous environment.
Damon walked into the nursery softly, carrying a tray with warm tea and food. Seeing her tears, he immediately set the tray down and knelt beside her chair.
"Don't read those lie-filled rags, Sylvie," he urged gently, taking her free hand.
"He's going to ruin us, Damon," Sylvie sobbed. "My father... he never changes. When I told him I was pregnant seven months ago, he tried to bribe me to get an abortion because he said your bloodline was toxic. When I refused, he cut me off completely. Now that he sees an opportunity to control two new heirs to the Montgomery legacy, he will use every judge in New York to take them."
Damon felt an old, dangerous fire ignite within his chest. The corporate instincts he had tried to bury came rushing back, but this time, they weren't fueled by greed—they were fueled by a father's fierce protective instinct.
"He won't touch them," Damon vowed, looking into Sylvie's eyes. "I promise you, Sylvie. I let my pride destroy our marriage once. I will not let your father destroy our family."
"How are you going to fight him?" Sylvie asked, fear in her voice. "You resigned! Marcus Vance controls your board, and my father controls the courts!"
"They think I'm weak because I walked away," Damon said, a slow, dark smile touching his lips. "They think a man who throws away a empire has lost his spine. They forgot who built Vexley Pharmaceuticals from nothing."
Damon stood up and called a team meeting right in the living room of the estate. Within two hours, three men arrived: Caleb Vance (a brilliant private investigator and no relation to Marcus), Victoria Cross (New York's top family law litigator), and Dr. Harrison (the lead scientist on Vexley’s pediatric cancer trial).
"Here's the plan," Damon instructed the room. "Arthur Montgomery is funding Marcus Vance through Helios Capital. That means Arthur is committing illegal insider trading and market manipulation using unregistered foreign capital."
May you like
Victoria Cross shook her head. "Proving that in a family court takes months, Damon. Arthur’s emergency custody hearing is scheduled in forty-eight hours. The judge assigned is Judge Harrison—a man who sits on the board of Arthur's charitable foundation."
"Then we don't wait for the court," Damon replied coldly. "We hit Arthur where he hurts most. His legacy."
