Chapter 4 - The Ledger of Blood
"You knew," I said, holding the heavy leather ledger tight against my chest. "You knew he was using cheap steel on state bridge projects."
Eleanor didn't flinch. She took three slow steps into the room, the brass tip of her cane clicking against the parquet floor. "I built this empire with your father-in-law forty years ago, Clara. Do you have any idea how many compromise deals, corrupt inspectors, and political payouts it takes to erect a skyline?"
"This isn't politics, Mother," Ethan barked, stepping between Eleanor’s guards and me. "This is murder! The Hudson Span has micro-fractures in the support pylons. I ran the structural stress models myself on the secondary server! If a heavy freight convoy crosses during high wind, the center span will collapse!"
"Then we reinforce it quietly next year!" Eleanor snapped, her aristocratic face contorting with sudden fury. "We do not destroy a three-billion-dollar corporation over administrative shortcuts! Do you think the public cares about raw steel supply chains? They care about stock prices, jobs, and power! If this ledger leaves this house, Vance Enterprises dies overnight, and both of you will go down with it!"
"Julian tried to frame Ethan," I shouted, my voice echoing off the leather books. "He forged his signature on the safety compliance reports! If those bridges fall, Ethan goes to federal prison while Julian flies to Switzerland with those fake passports!"
Eleanor looked at Ethan, her eyes cold, devoid of maternal warmth. "Ethan is an engineer. He is replaceable. The Vance name is not."
"You monster," Ethan spat.
Eleanor gestured to the two men behind her. "Take the ledger. Make sure my daughter-in-law and my second son are escorted to the guest house until the board meeting tomorrow morning."
The two men stepped forward. Ethan moved fast, slamming his shoulder into the first guard, sending him crashing into a glass display case of antique firearms. The sound of shattering glass exploded through the room.
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"Run, Clara!" Ethan yelled, grabbing the second guard by his collar.
I didn't hesitate. I clutched the ledger under my arm, bolted through the study’s French doors, and burst out into the pouring rain.
