Chapter 7 - The Trap is Set
By sunrise, Julian was safely reunited with his brother Liam and sister Maya at our mountain hideout. Watching the three babies lie together on a massive blanket—three identical sets of blond curls and blue eyes—was a sight that brought the entire security detail to a quiet, respectful standstill.
Maren sat beside them, refusing to let any of the children out of her sight for even a second.
"They're safe now, Maren," I said, offering her a hot cup of coffee.
"They are safe from physical harm," Maren replied, looking up at me with sharp, calculating eyes. "But Tessa and her father still own half of your company. They still hold the fake evidence that destroyed my reputation. The moment they realize Julian is gone, they will spin this into a kidnapping charge against you."
"They won't get the chance," I said, a cold smile touching my lips. "They think the wedding is still happening tomorrow afternoon at the Grand Regency Ballroom. I just received a message from Tessa—she has no idea we took Julian. The estate manager in Vermont was so terrified of Richard Whitmore’s wrath that he hasn't reported the breach yet; he's still trying to figure out who took the kid."
"What are you going to do?" Maren asked.
"I'm going to let the wedding proceed," I stated smoothly. "I'm going to stand at the altar in front of five hundred of the most powerful politicians, CEOs, and news outlets in the country. And when Tessa walks down that aisle to sign the final merger agreement..."
I leaned down, kissing Maren lightly on the forehead—a gesture that made her breath hitch.
"...I am going to destroy her in front of the entire world."
"I want to be there," Maren said firmly.
"Maren, it’s going to be a bloodbath—"
"I was publicly dragged through the mud, Rowan," she interrupted, her voice firm. "I was labeled a cheater, a liar, and a gold-digger. My name was dragged through every tabloid in this city. I want to be in that ballroom when the truth comes out."
I looked at her, seeing the unstoppable fire in her spirit.
"Then you will walk into that ballroom like the queen you are," I promised.
May you like
Over the next twenty-four hours, my legal and technical teams worked at fever pitch. We didn't just compile the evidence of Julian’s abduction; we dug deep into Whitmore Enterprises' financial records. With Vance’s cooperation—who had agreed to turn state's evidence in exchange for immunity—we uncovered a massive web of corporate espionage, tax evasion, and blackmail that Richard Whitmore had used to build his empire.
Tessa wasn't just a bitter, obsessed woman trying to steal another woman's life; she was part of a criminal dynasty that used human lives as disposable pawns.
