Chapter 4 - THE MAN WHO CALLED IT PROTECTION
Grant’s father, Edwin Mercer, arrived three days later.
He was seventy-one.
Still chairman emeritus.
Still believed every crisis could be managed by lawyers, money, and silence.
“This cannot become public.”
Grant stared.
“Why?”
“Because Noah’s privacy matters.”
Partly true.
Then:
“And because Mercer Development has two pending municipal bids.”
There it was.
Reputation.
Grant said:
“Vivienne hit my son.”
Edwin lowered his voice.
“And she will be handled.”
“Handled how?”
“Privately.”
“No.”
Edwin looked surprised.
“Grant.”
“No.”
“Think.”
“I am.”
“This family has enemies.”
“Tessa has video.”
Edwin’s face tightened.
“Then control it.”
Tessa stood in the doorway.
Edwin had not noticed her.
Grant did.
He said:
“No.”
His father turned.
Tessa looked awkward.
“I can come back.”
“No.”
Grant stayed focused on Edwin.
“We are not controlling evidence.”
“This is family.”
“No.”
Grant’s voice sharpened.
“This is exactly how families become unsafe.”
Edwin stared.
Grant continued.
“You taught me that protection meant controlling the story.”
Silence.
“I believed you.”
“And while I was controlling appearances, I stopped asking whether the people inside the house were actually safe.”
Edwin’s face changed.
For the first time, he had no answer.
Tessa saw something important.
Grant was not merely angry at Vivienne.
May you like
He was beginning to understand the system that made her possible.
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