Chapter 18 - The Letter That Broke Marcus
Samuel walked slowly toward the stage.
Marcus stared down from the balcony.
"You're lying."
Samuel unfolded the letter.
"Your father wrote this in 1932."
Marcus shook his head.
"No."
"He was bankrupt before Samuel Vale ever approached him."
"Stop."
"He sold the property to protect your grandmother from his gambling debts."
Marcus pressed the detonator tighter.
"Stop talking."
Samuel looked at Charlotte.
"Your grandfather did many terrible things later."
"He bribed officials."
"He forced competitors out."
"He lied about how the Solmere began."
"But he didn't steal this hotel from Marcus' father."
Marcus descended the staircase.
His face looked empty.
"Give me the letter."
Samuel handed it to Charlotte instead.
Marcus reached the ballroom floor.
"Give it to me."
Charlotte held it out.
Marcus took the paper.
His eyes moved across the handwriting.
The room remained silent.
Charlotte watched thirty years of hatred collide with a single page.
Marcus whispered.
"No."
Samuel said quietly.
"Your mother kept the original."
Marcus looked at him.
"Why?"
"Because she knew what you believed."
"She tried to tell you."
"You refused to meet her."
Marcus stared at the page.
Charlotte saw tears in his eyes.
Then anger returned.
"It's forged."
Daniel spoke from the side of the room.
"We verified the paper and ink."
Marcus looked around.
"No."
Charlotte stepped closer.
"You built your entire life around a lie."
His face twisted.
"You don't get to say that."
"You're right."
Charlotte nodded.
"I don't."
"But my mother is dead because you never questioned it."
Marcus raised the detonator.
People screamed.
Charlotte didn't move.
"Press it."
Daniel stared at her.
Marcus froze.
Charlotte stepped closer.
"If killing everyone in this room brings your father back, press it."
Marcus' eyes filled with tears.
"If murdering housekeepers, waiters, guests, musicians, and employees fixes what happened to your family, press it."
His hand trembled violently.
"But they didn't hurt you."
"You hurt them."
Marcus looked around the ballroom.
Employees stared back.
People who had trusted him for years.
A young bellman near the doors began crying.
Marcus lowered the device slightly.
Then a gunshot exploded.
Marcus jerked forward.
The detonator fell.
Charlotte screamed.
Victor Hale stood near the service entrance.
A pistol in his hand.
Daniel fired.
Victor disappeared behind a column.
Marcus collapsed.
Charlotte grabbed the detonator before it hit the floor.
Daniel's team rushed toward the bombs.
Samuel knelt beside Marcus.
Blood spread across his tuxedo.
Marcus looked at Charlotte.
"Don't let him take the hotel."
"Victor?"
Marcus struggled to speak.
"He doesn't want Solmere."
"Then what?"
Marcus coughed.
"He wants you dead before midnight."
"Why midnight?"
Marcus smiled weakly.
"Because your twenty-eighth birthday begins tomorrow."
Charlotte froze.
Marcus whispered.
"Read the original Vale trust."
Then his eyes closed.
Charlotte turned toward Daniel.
"What happens when I turn twenty-eight?"
Alexander approached slowly.
His expression told Charlotte he already knew.
"Father?"
He looked at her.
"At midnight, your ownership becomes irrevocable."
Charlotte stared at the clock.
May you like
11:41 p.m.
Victor had nineteen minutes.
