Chapter 7
He had also planned to use the amendment to weaken Evelyn’s voting rights.
Grant’s affair had been useful to him.
Caroline had been useful.
Even the crown had been useful.
Raymond wanted photographs of Caroline acting as the recognized family consort, hoping they would help establish a public narrative that Evelyn had voluntarily stepped away.
The photographs had never been released.
The photographer, however, had kept the original files.
And when subpoenaed, he provided every one.
Raymond’s carefully constructed scheme began collapsing under the weight of its own records.
Criminal investigators eventually opened a separate case involving suspected fraud and falsified documents.
Raymond resigned from the family trust and surrendered his corporate positions under an agreement that did not shield him from criminal prosecution.
Grant was removed as chief executive.
The board appointed an independent interim leader.
Mercer Holdings survived.
But the Mercer men no longer controlled it without question.
Grant saw his daughter for the first time on a gray morning in March.
The meeting took place in a supervised family-services office after parentage had been confirmed and temporary parenting arrangements established.
Evelyn sat beside Grace’s stroller.
Grant entered slowly.
He looked older.
His face was thinner.
The confidence that once filled every room had vanished.
When he saw the baby, he stopped.
For several seconds, he could not speak.
“She’s beautiful,” he whispered.
Evelyn nodded.
“She is.”
He approached the stroller.
Grace was awake, looking toward the window.
Grant crouched beside her.
“Hi, sweetheart.”
His voice broke.
Evelyn watched him carefully.
This was the man who had missed the pregnancy complications.
The emergency delivery.
The incubator.
The sleepless nights.
The first time Grace breathed without assistance.
And yet he was also her father.
Evelyn had decided that her daughter would not be punished for the sins of either parent.
Grant looked up.
“Why didn’t you tell me she was born?”
Evelyn took a moment before answering.
“Because I learned you had people watching my medical appointments. Because I didn’t know who was involved. And because I was trying to keep her safe.”
“I didn’t know what Raymond was doing.”
“You knew you were replacing me.”
He lowered his eyes.
“Yes.”
“You knew you were signing documents that took away my authority.”
“Yes.”
“And you knew I was sick.”
Grant began crying.
“I was selfish.”
Evelyn said nothing.
“I thought you were leaving me. Raymond kept telling me you were planning to take everything.”