Chapter 3 - Shadows of the Past
The next morning, Michael took a leave of absence from the company, moving his children out of the mansion to a secure, private beachfront villa tucked away in a quiet coastal town. He hired a team of elite, trusted security guards to patrol the perimeter 24/7.
Ethan and Lily spent the first three days in near silence, trembling whenever a door shut too loudly or a floorboard creaked.
Michael stayed by their side every second. He cooked their meals, read them stories, and slept on a cot right in their bedroom so they would see him the moment they woke up from nightmares.
On the fourth night, Ethan woke up shivering, gasping for air. “Daddy! Daddy, don't let her take you!”
Michael was at his bedside in a second, pulling the boy into a warm embrace. “I’m here, buddy. I’m right here. Nobody is taking me anywhere.”
Lily crawled over from her bed, clutching her small teddy bear. “Daddy, Vanessa said if we told you about the dark room, she would make you go away like Mommy went away.”
Tears welled in Michael’s eyes. He kissed both of their foreheads, his heart swelling with fierce protectiveness. “Your mommy is in heaven watching over us, and I am right here on Earth to protect you with everything I have. Nothing—no money, no company, no wicked person—will ever separate us again.”
While the children finally fell back into a peaceful sleep, Michael sat at the desk in the corner, staring at his laptop.
Harrison called with an update. “Michael, Vance and Vanessa’s legal team just filed a emergency motion in court. They are alleging that you were the abusive parent, framing Vanessa to cover up your financial embezzlements. Vance is using the stolen funds to buy up outstanding shares of Carter Enterprises. They’re holding an emergency board meeting on Friday to vote you out as CEO.”
Michael’s jaw tightened into iron. “They think they can use my children as pawns and steal my life’s work?”
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“What do you want to do?” Harrison asked.
“Prepare the countersuit,” Michael commanded, his voice cold and lethal. “And find the nanny Vanessa fired three months ago—Mrs. Higgins. She knows the truth.”
