Chapter 15 - Christmas Eve at Mercer House
Mercer House looked exactly as Elena remembered.
That was the problem.
Five years earlier, she had attended a Christmas party there as Adrian’s girlfriend.
She remembered the giant wreath above the entrance.
The white candles in every window.
The enormous Christmas tree visible through the glass doors.
She had once thought the estate looked magical.
Now it looked like a beautiful trap.
Their SUV stopped beneath the portico.
Adrian stepped out first.
Then he opened Elena’s door.
“You okay?”
“No.”
“Same.”
She almost smiled.
Oliver climbed out wearing a navy wool coat.
Lucy followed in cream, clutching Benny.
Both children stared at the house.
Oliver whispered.
“Dad?”
“Yes?”
“Are you a king?”
Adrian laughed.
“Definitely not.”
Lucy pointed upward.
“Then why is your house a castle?”
“It belonged to my grandfather.”
Oliver nodded knowingly.
“So he was king.”
Elena smiled despite herself.
The front doors opened.
Vivian stood inside.
She had arrived earlier to prepare the trustees.
Her gaze moved to the twins.
For the first time, Vivian Mercer looked nervous.
Lucy hid partially behind Elena.
Vivian stopped several feet away.
“Hello.”
Oliver looked at Adrian.
“Who’s she?”
Adrian paused.
The answer carried complicated history.
“This is Vivian.”
Vivian seemed surprised he did not immediately say grandmother.
Elena appreciated it.
Oliver waved.
“Hi, Vivian.”
Vivian smiled.
“Hello, Oliver.”
Lucy lifted Benny.
“This is Benny.”
Vivian’s expression softened.
“I remember Benny.”
Lucy became interested.
“You knew him too?”
“I did.”
“Was he trouble?”
Vivian glanced at Adrian.
“Constantly.”
Lucy smiled.
The smallest possible bridge formed between them.
They entered.
Mercer family trustees gathered in the library.
Several board members attended.
Independent counsel observed.
Mara stood near the fireplace with documents.
Security occupied every corridor.
Julian had not arrived.
Neither had Victoria.
Elena did not know whether that made her feel better or worse.
At seven o’clock, the recognition ceremony began.
It was surprisingly simple.
The trust chairman stood beside an old family ledger.
“Adrian Richard Mercer.”
Adrian stepped forward.
“Do you present these descendants freely and without coercion?”
“I do.”
“State their names.”
Adrian looked at Elena.
She nodded.
“Oliver James Hart.”
“Lucy Ava Hart.”
Adrian had learned Lucy’s middle name only that morning.
Ava.
He had disappeared into the bathroom afterward for several minutes.
The chairman continued.
“Do you acknowledge them as your biological descendants?”
Adrian looked at his children.
“Yes.”
His voice was strong.
“They are my son and daughter.”
The doors opened.
Everyone turned.
Julian entered.
He wore a dark tuxedo.
Behind him came Victoria Mercer.
The room went silent.
Victoria looked elegant.
Almost regal.
She studied the children without smiling.
“So.”
Her voice carried easily.
“The missing heirs have finally arrived.”
Adrian stepped between her and the twins.
“You don’t approach them.”
Victoria raised an eyebrow.
“You look like Richard when you’re angry.”
“Don’t speak about my father.”
“He was my brother.”
“Half brother.”
Her smile became cold.
“Mercers always loved qualifying blood.”
Julian remained near the doorway.
He looked at Oliver.
Then Lucy.
For a second, something complicated crossed his face.
Not hatred.
Something closer to exhaustion.
Adrian noticed.
The chairman spoke.
“This is a private trust proceeding.”
Victoria laughed.
“I am a Mercer.”
Vivian stepped forward.
“No.”
Victoria looked at her.
“You erased me once.”
“You don’t get to do it twice.”
Vivian’s expression hardened.
“I didn’t erase you.”
“Richard did.”
“My father did.”
“Everyone did.”
Victoria pointed toward Julian.
“They took my son.”
Julian closed his eyes.
“Mother.”
It was the first time Adrian had ever heard him call Victoria that.
Victoria continued.
“They raised him under another woman’s name.”
“They gave him a place at the table but never the truth.”
“And then they made him spend his life watching Richard’s golden son inherit everything.”
Adrian looked at Julian.
“You could have told me.”
Julian laughed quietly.
“And what?”
“Waited for your sympathy?”
“I didn’t ask you to pity me.”
“You didn’t ask me anything.”
“You forged documents.”
Julian looked toward Elena.
“I did.”
The admission stunned the room.
Victoria turned sharply.
“Julian.”
He ignored her.
Adrian stepped closer.
“You admit it?”
“Yes.”
“You convinced Elena I abandoned her.”
“Yes.”
Elena felt four years of anger compress into one moment.
“Why?”
Julian looked at her.
“Because if Adrian recognized your child, I lost the only leverage I had.”
“You knew there were twins?”
“No.”
“Did you know they were born?”
“Not until two months ago.”
Adrian’s expression sharpened.
“How?”
Julian looked at Matthew Cole, who had entered with Mara.
“Grantwell payroll records.”
Matthew’s face tightened.
Julian continued.
“I knew Elena listed two dependents.”
“I investigated.”
Adrian moved toward him.
“Did you send her to Aspen?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Victoria interrupted.
“To bring them here.”
Julian turned.
“No.”
Everyone looked at him.
Victoria’s face hardened.
Julian continued.
“I sent Elena to Aspen because I wanted to speak to her without Adrian knowing.”
Elena stared.
“About what?”
Julian looked toward the children.
“To warn you about Victoria.”
Victoria slapped him.
The sound cracked across the library.
Oliver jumped.
Adrian immediately moved the children farther back.
Julian slowly turned his face toward his mother.
Victoria whispered.
“You coward.”
Julian laughed softly.
“Maybe.”
Then he looked at Adrian.
“But she’s planning something tonight.”
Security doors suddenly locked.
The lights went out.
Lucy screamed.
Elena pulled both children against her.
Emergency lighting glowed red.
Adrian reached for them.
May you like
Julian’s voice came through the darkness.
“She’s already started.”
