Chapter 7 - The Shadow of Revenge
Two months passed.
The world around Maxwell had transformed completely.
The Solitude was no longer a cold, quiet vessel of isolation. The master suite had been redecorated with soft yellow walls, low bookshelves, and colorful rugs. The teak deck now featured safety netting along the railings, and the main salon was frequently filled with the sound of children’s cartoons and laughter.
Maya had made a full recovery. Her dark hair was shiny and braided neatly, her skin was rosy and healthy, and her spirit blossomed under Maxwell’s boundless affection. Maxwell had officially legally adopted her, giving her the name Maya Parker Anderson.
He spent his mornings walking her to a prestigious private primary school near the coast, and his afternoons working from his study on the yacht while she drew pictures beside his desk.
However, in the shadows, Thomas was breaking down.
Stripped of his corporate position, publicly disgraced, and facing an ongoing financial audit by Maxwell’s forensic accountants, Thomas faced complete ruin. His bank accounts were frozen, his luxury cars repossessed, and his elite friends abandoned him.
Driven by bitter desperation and hatred, Thomas turned to dangerous men.
Late one Friday night, in a dark alley behind an industrial harbor warehouse, Thomas met with a man named Vance—a disgraced former marine who ran a private security firm specializing in illicit corporate enforcement.
“You’re sure he’s alone on the boat on weekends?” Thomas whispered nervously, pulling his coat collar up against the cold wind.
“My guys have been watching the dock,” Vance said, smoking a thin cigarette. “On Saturday nights, the night guard takes a break at midnight. Anderson stays on the yacht with the kid. No heavy security detail—just him and two housekeepers who leave by nine.”
“I don't want him killed,” Thomas said, his hands shaking violently. “I just want the kid. If I have the kid, I can force him to sign over the trust assets and drop the criminal charges against me. Once I get the money, I leave the country.”
Vance smirked coldly. “Kidnapping a billionaire’s heir costs extra.”
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Thomas pulled a velvet box from his pocket and opened it, revealing a stolen set of high-end diamond watches and property titles. “This is everything I have left. Take it. Just do it tomorrow night.”
Vance snatched the box and examined the watches under the dim streetlight. “Consider it done. Midnight tomorrow. Pier Seven.”
