Chapter 10: The Truth That Could Destroy the Mercer Family
Chapter 10: The Truth That Could Destroy the Mercer Family
The words hung in the air.
“The biggest secret is why your mother disappeared.”
Evan Mercer felt like the ground beneath him had shifted.
Again.
For the second time in less than a week, everything he believed about his life was being torn apart.
First Leah.
Then Ellie.
Then his father.
And now his mother.
A woman whose disappearance had been a wound he carried since childhood.
Evan stared at Richard.
“Don’t.”
His voice was quiet.
“Don’t bring her into this.”
Richard’s expression remained calm.
“Why?”
“Because you still believe the story you were given?”
Evan clenched his jaw.
“I know what happened.”
Richard smiled slightly.
“No, Evan.”
“You know what I wanted you to believe.”
The room became silent.
Daniel Cross stood near the back exit, watching the confrontation.
Even he looked uncomfortable.
Because this was no longer about business.
This was about a family that had been built on secrets.
Evan stepped closer.
“You have lied to me my entire life.”
Richard didn’t deny it.
“You think the truth is always better?”
“Yes.”
Richard laughed softly.
“That’s because you’ve never had to carry the responsibility of protecting a legacy.”
Evan shook his head.
“Legacy?”
He looked around the small repair shop.
“Is that what you call destroying people?”
Richard’s eyes narrowed.
“You don’t understand power.”
“No.”
Evan looked directly at him.
“I understand exactly what power does when the wrong person holds it.”
For a moment, Richard said nothing.
Then he looked at Daniel.
“You betrayed me.”
Daniel lowered his eyes.
“No.”
His voice was stronger than before.
“I finally stopped helping you.”
Richard’s expression darkened.
“You have no idea what you’ve done.”
Daniel looked at him.
“I know exactly what I’ve done.”
“I gave Evan the truth.”
Richard smiled coldly.
“The truth?”
He looked back at Evan.
“You think you know the truth because you found a few documents?”
“You think you know everything because Leah cried and told you a story?”
Evan’s eyes hardened.
“She told me what you did.”
Richard shook his head.
“She told you what she believed happened.”
A pause.
“Not what actually happened.”
Evan felt a wave of frustration.
“You always do this.”
“Do what?”
“Create confusion.”
Richard smiled.
“Because confusion is what happens when people discover reality.”
Evan looked at him.
“Then explain.”
Richard remained silent.
For the first time, Evan noticed something.
His father wasn’t refusing because he was confident.
He was hesitating.
That meant there was something he didn’t want to say.
“Tell me about my mother.”
The question changed Richard’s expression.
Only slightly.
But Evan saw it.
A reaction.
A weakness.
“My mother didn’t leave us.”
Richard looked away.
Evan’s heart stopped.
“What?”
Daniel looked shocked.
Richard sighed.
“Your mother was complicated.”
“No.”
Evan stepped forward.
“You told me she left.”
Richard said nothing.
“You told me she abandoned us.”
Richard looked back at him.
“Because that was easier.”
The anger inside Evan exploded.
“Easier for who?”
Richard didn’t answer.
“Easier for you?”
“Easier because you didn’t want me asking questions?”
Richard’s silence was enough.
Evan’s voice shook.
“What happened to her?”
Richard looked at the floor.
“She found out too much.”
The words sent chills through him.
“About what?”
Richard didn’t respond.
“About you?”
“No.”
Richard finally looked up.
“About the company.”
Evan frowned.
“What does that mean?”
Daniel spoke quietly.
“It means your father wasn’t always honest about how he built Mercer Holdings.”
Richard immediately turned.
“Enough.”
But Daniel continued.
“He made deals.”
“Dangerous ones.”
Evan stared at his father.
“What kind of deals?”
Richard’s face became cold.
“The kind that built an empire.”
“No.”
Evan shook his head.
“The kind that destroyed lives.”
A long silence followed.
Richard looked at his son.
“You think you’re better than me.”
Evan answered immediately.
“I know I am.”
The words hit Richard harder than expected.
Because Evan had finally stopped seeking his approval.
That was the one thing Richard could not control.
Suddenly, Evan’s phone rang.
Leah.
He answered immediately.
“Leah?”
Her voice was panicked.
“Evan.”
“What happened?”
“Ellie is gone.”
Everything stopped.
“What?”
“I went upstairs for one minute.”
Her voice broke.
“When I came back…”
“She was gone.”
Evan felt ice move through his veins.
“No.”
He looked at Richard.
The older man remained silent.
Too silent.
Evan’s expression changed.
“You.”
Richard didn’t move.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Evan stepped forward.
“If anything happens to her…”
Richard interrupted.
“You should be careful with your accusations.”
Evan’s anger exploded.
“You took my daughter.”
“No.”
Richard smiled slightly.
“Someone took your daughter.”
Evan froze.
“What does that mean?”
Richard looked at him.
“It means you should have listened.”
Daniel immediately pulled out his phone.
“Evan.”
He looked at the screen.
His face changed.
“What?”
Daniel turned the phone around.
There was a video message.
A dark room.
A small chair.
And Ellie sitting in it.
Alive.
Terrified.
Evan’s heart shattered.
“Ellie!”
The little girl looked at the camera.
“Daddy…”
Her voice trembled.
“I’m scared.”
Evan almost dropped the phone.
Then another figure appeared behind her.
A woman.
Someone Evan had never seen before.
She leaned toward the camera.
And spoke.
“Evan Mercer.”
“You want your daughter back?”
Evan stared.
The woman smiled.
“Then you need to learn the truth your father has been hiding.”
The video ended.
Silence filled the room.
Evan looked at Richard.
For the first time…
Richard looked afraid.
Not angry.
Not confident.
Afraid.
Because whoever had taken Ellie…
Was not working for him.
Richard whispered one sentence.
And everyone froze.
“She wasn’t supposed to come back.”
Evan turned.
“What did you say?”
Richard looked at the phone.
Then at Evan.
“I thought she was gone forever.”
The meaning of those words hit everyone.
Because Richard wasn’t the person who took Ellie.
Someone else was involved.
Someone from the past.
Someone who knew the Mercer family secrets.
Evan grabbed his jacket.
“Where is she?”
Richard looked at him.
“You really want to know?”
“Yes.”
A pause.
“Then you need to find the woman who started all of this.”
Evan stared.
“Who?”
Richard’s face turned pale.
Then he said the name that changed everything.
“Your mother.”
The room went silent.
Because according to everything Evan had been told…
His mother had been gone for twenty years.
But now…
May you like
She might be the only person who could save his daughter.
TO BE CONTINUED...
