Chapter 2 - The Arrival of the Mercer Empire
Nathan Mercer entered the library first. At forty-two, Nathan was the eldest of the four Mercer siblings and the CEO of Mercer Aerospace. He wore a charcoal suit without a tie, as if he had left a private dinner before dessert. His expression was composed, but his eyes moved immediately from Evelyn’s torn dress to the sword in Grant’s hand. Cole Mercer came in behind him. Cole, thirty-nine, ran Mercer Health Systems, a nationwide network of hospitals and research centers. He carried a black medical case and looked at Evelyn’s posture before he looked at Grant. Daniel arrived last. At thirty-six, Daniel was the CEO of Mercer Sentinel and the only brother who still wore sneakers to board meetings. He held a phone displaying a live audio feed. Three security officers entered with them, taking silent positions near the doors and windows.
Silence filled the grand library. It was a heavy, suffocating silence that made the ticking of the grandfather clock sound like thunder. Grant stood frozen, the historical cavalry sword still raised in his hand, his eyes wide with disbelief. “What is this?” Grant choked out, his voice cracking. “This is private property. You can’t just break into my house!” Nathan didn't answer him. He didn't even acknowledge Grant’s existence. Instead, Nathan walked straight toward Evelyn, his heavy leather shoes striking the floor with absolute, terrifying purpose. “Evelyn,” Nathan said softly. The coldness in his demeanor melted into pure, protective tenderness as he reached her side. “Can you walk?”
“I can walk,” Evelyn replied, her voice trembling slightly for the first time. Cole was already beside her. He set his black medical case on the desk, pushing Grant’s fraudulent financial documents aside without a second glance. “Sit down, Evie,” Cole instructed gently, placing a firm, warm hand on her shoulder. “Let me examine your ribs. Do not try to hold yourself up anymore.” Evelyn let out a long, shuddering breath and allowed Cole to guide her into a plush velvet armchair. Cole knelt beside her immediately, his professional medical hands carefully checking her pulse, inspecting the dark purple bruising on her ribcage, and assessing her breath sounds. “Left thoracic wall trauma,” Cole murmured, his voice deadly calm as he looked up at his brothers. “Bruising is severe. I need to run a full ultrasound at the medical center to ensure the placenta hasn't detached.”
At those words, Daniel closed his phone and stepped forward. His face was unnaturally pale, his jaw set like iron. “Audio was recorded from the second press,” Daniel said, looking at the ceiling, then at Grant. “Audio and video transmitted directly to our secure server, local law enforcement, and the District Attorney’s emergency portal from the third press. Everything you said, Grant. Every threat. Every strike.” Grant’s face drained of all color. He looked at the sword still in his hand and suddenly realized how monstrous he appeared. “I... I didn't mean to hit her,” Grant stammered, his eyes darting frantically toward Celeste. “It was an accident! The sword... I was just trying to make a point! She was refusing to cooperate with the family business!”
“Family business?” Nathan finally turned to face Grant. The air in the room seemed to drop ten degrees. Nathan Mercer was a man who negotiated defense contracts with nations and managed multi-billion-dollar aerospace conglomerates. His presence alone commanded absolute authority. “You raised a lethal weapon against my pregnant sister,” Nathan said, his voice terrifyingly quiet. “You struck her. You threatened her life and the life of my unborn niece.” Nathan took a single step closer to Grant. Grant instinctively backed away, his heels hitting the heavy oak desk. “Put the sword down, Grant,” Nathan commanded.
Grant gripped the handle tighter, out of sheer, unadulterated terror. “Get out of my house, Nathan! You have no authority here! This is Holloway House! You think because you have billions you can push me around? She is my wife! These are marital assets!” “Drop the blade,” Daniel said, stepping up beside Nathan. “Or my security team will disarm you. And trust me, they won't be as gentle as the law.” Celeste, realizing the ship was sinking with catastrophic speed, slowly took two steps backward toward the side entrance of the library. “Where do you think you’re going, Miss Avery?” Daniel’s voice sliced through the room.
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Celeste froze, her face pale, her hands shaking. “I... I was just a guest,” Celeste stammered, her elegant demeanor completely shattered. “I had nothing to do with this! Grant made me come here! He forced me to record!” “The audio recording tells a very different story,” Evelyn’s voice came from the armchair, clear and icy. Everyone turned to look at her. Evelyn leaned her head back against the cushion, Cole’s hand resting gently on her wrist to monitor her pulse. “You told Grant that I would sign if I understood the consequences,” Evelyn said, staring directly into Celeste’s panicked eyes. “You drafted the secondary clause transferring my Mercer Foundation voting rights to your personal offshore account in the Caymans. Did you really think I wouldn't trace the IP address of the document editor, Celeste?”
Celeste swallowed hard, her confidence collapsing into dust. Grant looked at Celeste, bewildered. “What? Offshore account? What is she talking about?” “She was using you, Grant,” Evelyn said, a bitter, sad smile touching her lips. “Just as you were using me. But while you were playing the arrogant heir, she was preparing to drain whatever was left of Holloway Hospitality before you declared bankruptcy.”
