Her face was calm.
Almost emotionless.
Evan stared at her.
"Mom."
Victoria looked at him.
"I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"For bringing you into this."
Daniel raised the gun.
"Don't move."
Victoria looked at him.
"Daniel, put it down."
"No."
"You don't understand."
"I understand enough."
Victoria sighed.
"You think I betrayed Eleanor."
"Did you?"
Victoria looked at Naomi.
"Yes."
The answer was so direct that everyone froze.
Evan took a step backward.
"Why?"
Victoria looked at him.
"Because I was twenty-four years old and terrified of my father."
"You could have helped her."
"I tried."
Daniel laughed bitterly.
"No, you didn't."
Victoria looked at him.
"I gave Eleanor a warning."
"What warning?"
"That Jonathan knew about the trust."
Naomi stepped forward.
"My grandmother knew?"
Victoria nodded.
"She knew he was searching for it."
"Then why did she disappear?"
"Because he found her."
Naomi's voice shook.
"Did he hurt her?"
Victoria closed her eyes.
"He tried."
Naomi felt her hands become cold.
"Tell me everything."
Victoria looked at Richard.
He nodded.
"There are things you deserve to know."
They sat around the old kitchen table.
The farmhouse suddenly felt like a courtroom.
Victoria began.
"Your grandmother discovered that Jonathan had transferred her patents illegally. But she also discovered something worse."
"What?"
"Money."
Naomi frowned.
"Money?"
"Jonathan had created secret accounts."
Richard continued.
"He used them to pay people who helped suppress Eleanor's lawsuit."
Naomi stared at him.
"How much?"
"Millions."
Daniel added, "And some of that money came from the government contracts."
Evan looked shocked.
"My grandfather stole public money?"
Richard shook his head.
"Not exactly. He manipulated contracts and redirected payments through shell companies."
Victoria nodded.
"Eleanor discovered it."
"And that's why he wanted her gone."
"Yes."
Naomi looked at Victoria.
"You said he tried to hurt her."
"He ordered someone to scare her."
"Who?"
Victoria hesitated.
"Thomas Mercer."
Daniel went pale.
"My father?"
"Yes."
Daniel lowered the gun.
"My father was protecting Jonathan?"
Victoria nodded.
"He believed Jonathan would destroy his family if he refused."
Daniel looked away.
"My father told me he had been forced."
"He was."
"Then why did he keep working for him?"
Victoria looked at him.
"Because once you become part of a system like that, leaving becomes dangerous."
Naomi thought about her own life.
How easy it was to become trapped by money.
Rent.
Medicine.
Debt.
Fear.
She understood more than she wanted to.
"But my grandmother survived."
Victoria nodded.
"I helped her escape."
Naomi looked at her sharply.
"You?"
"Yes."
"Then why didn't you tell anyone?"
"Because Jonathan was watching me."
"How did she get to California?"
"Through a private network."
Richard added, "She changed her name."
Naomi's eyes filled with tears.
"Why didn't she contact me?"
Victoria's expression softened.
"She wanted to."
"Then why didn't she?"
"Because she believed Jonathan's people were watching your family."
Naomi looked down.
"All those years..."
"She loved you," Victoria said.
Naomi's eyes filled completely.
"That doesn't make it easier."
"No."
Victoria looked down.
"It doesn't."
Evan stared at his mother.
"You told me my grandfather was a difficult businessman."
Victoria looked at him.
"He was."
"You knew what he did."
"I knew some of it."
"And you said nothing."
"I was afraid."
Evan's voice became cold.
"You taught me to be like him."
Victoria shook her head.
"No."
She looked directly into his eyes.
"I taught you what I believed would keep you safe."
Evan laughed bitterly.
"And did it?"
Victoria had no answer.
Daniel suddenly walked toward the window.
"Someone's coming."
Everyone turned.
Cars were approaching the farmhouse.
Three black vehicles.
Naomi stood.
"Who?"
Daniel looked through the blinds.
"Security."
Evan frowned.
"Whose?"
Daniel turned.
"Not mine."
Richard whispered.
"Then we leave."
They rushed toward the back door.
But before they could reach it, the front door opened.
Several men entered.
A man in a dark coat stepped forward.
Naomi recognized him immediately.
He was one of the senior executives she had seen at the gala.
Martin Vale.
Evan's company's chief financial officer.
Evan stared.
"Martin?"
Martin smiled.
"I'm afraid this is where your family story ends."
Daniel raised his weapon.
Martin's men raised theirs.
"Put it down," Martin said.
Daniel froze.
Naomi looked at Evan.
He whispered:
"Don't."
Martin looked at Naomi.
"Miss Brooks."
She stared at him.
"What do you want?"
"The documents."
"We don't have them."
Martin smiled.
"You do."
He pointed toward the old clock.
"Your grandmother always hid things in clocks."
Naomi felt a chill.
"How do you know?"
"Because I knew her."
Richard stepped forward.
"You weren't part of this."
Martin laughed.
"Everyone was part of this."
He looked at Evan.
"Your grandfather created the empire."
Then he looked at Naomi.
"Your grandmother almost destroyed it."
Naomi's voice was steady.
"Maybe it deserves to be destroyed."
Martin's smile disappeared.
"You don't understand what you're saying."
"I understand perfectly."
"No."
He stepped closer.
"You think this is about money."
He shook his head.
"It's about power."
Naomi looked at him.
"And what happens if I don't give you the documents?"
Martin's expression hardened.
"People get hurt."
Evan moved forward.
"Leave her out of this."
Martin looked at him.
"You're still protecting her?"
"Yes."
"Even though she could take half of everything your family owns?"
Evan looked at Naomi.
Then back at Martin.
"If she deserves it, yes."
Martin laughed.
"You really have changed."
Evan didn't answer.
Martin raised his hand.
His men moved toward the others.
Suddenly, the farmhouse lights went out.
A loud crash came from the back room.
Someone shouted.
Naomi felt a hand grab hers.
She turned.