Chapter 5: The Announcement Nobody Expected
Alistair didn't look like a man attending a family celebration.
He looked like a man walking into a courtroom.
His charcoal suit was wrinkled, his tie was loose, and there were dark circles beneath his eyes.
But he didn't hesitate.
He walked directly toward the center of the room.
Roland's face changed.
"What are you doing here?""
Alistair ignored him.
He looked at Camille.
For the first time, she appeared genuinely frightened.
"Alistair," she whispered.
He stopped a few feet away.
"Hello, Camille.""
Graham slammed his walking stick against the marble floor.
"This is a private family event.""
Alistair looked at him.
"Then perhaps you should stop lying to the family.""
A murmur spread through the guests.
Roland moved between them.
"You're drunk.""
"I'm not.""
"You've embarrassed yourself enough.""
Alistair reached into his jacket.
"I brought something.""
Roland's eyes narrowed.
"Don't.""
But Alistair was already holding up a document.
It was a copy of the parental arrangement agreement.
I recognized it immediately.
Camille stepped backward.
"Where did you get that?""
Alistair looked at her.
"You gave me a copy.""
"That was private.""
"So was our affair, apparently. But that didn't stop you from discussing it with Roland.""
The room became completely silent.
One of the guests lowered her champagne glass.
Another woman whispered, "Affair?""
Roland grabbed Alistair's arm.
"Enough.""
Alistair pulled free.
"Let go of me.""
Graham stepped forward.
"Both of you, stop this immediately.""
I watched him carefully.
He wasn't worried about the baby.
He wasn't worried about Camille.
He was worried about the room.
About the guests.
About the Mercer name.
"Mr. Mercer," I said.
He turned sharply.
"Not now.""
"Actually, I think now is an excellent time.""
Roland looked at me.
"Evelyn, don't make this worse.""
I gave him a small smile.
"You've been saying that for six years.""
He lowered his voice.
"Whatever you think you know, you don't understand the situation.""
"Then explain it.""
He glanced at Alistair.
"He's unstable.""
Alistair laughed bitterly.
"That's your explanation?""
Roland turned toward the guests.
"My brother has been under considerable stress. He's dealing with personal issues, and I would appreciate everyone giving him some privacy.""
Alistair raised the document.
"Tell them about the agreement, Roland.""
"Put that away.""
"Tell them why you agreed to raise my child as yours.""
A woman near the staircase gasped.
Camille began crying.
"Alistair, please.""
He looked at her.
"Don't do that.""
She covered her face.
"I didn't want this.""
Alistair's expression hardened.
"You wanted the money.""
Roland stepped forward.
"That's enough!""
His voice echoed through the room.
Then he turned toward me.
"This is your fault.""
I blinked.
"My fault?""
"You've been poisoning my family against me.""
I almost admired the speed with which he could turn himself into the victim.
"Roland, I haven't spoken to your family in eleven months.""
"Then why are you here?""
I pointed toward the invitation.
"Your fiancée invited me.""
Camille looked away.
Roland took a breath.
"Fine. You want the truth? The child is mine legally.
Camille and I have made arrangements. Alistair agreed to help us.""
Alistair shook his head.
"I agreed to nothing permanent.""
"You signed the agreement.""
"Under pressure.""
"You were paid.""
The words came out before Roland could stop them.
Silence.
I watched Alistair's face.
"Paid?"" he repeated.
Roland froze.
Graham closed his eyes.
I looked at Camille.
"How much?""
She shook her head.
"I don't know what you're talking about.""
"Two million dollars?"" I asked.
Her face went pale.
Roland stepped toward me.
"Stop talking.""
I opened my handbag and removed a copy of the financial audit.
"Because I think we should discuss the payments made to Sterling Advisory Group.""
Graham's walking stick struck the floor again.
"Where did you get those records?""
"From the company's financial audit.""
"Those are confidential.""
"So are forged financial authorizations.""
Roland stared at me.
For the first time, I saw something different in his eyes.
Not anger.
Fear.
I handed the documents to Beatrix, who had just entered through the side doors.
She had arrived with two additional people from her office.
"Good afternoon, everyone," she said calmly.
Roland's expression darkened.
"You brought your lawyer?""
"Yes.""
"To a baby shower?""
I smiled.
"Well, you brought a financial agreement.""
Beatrix stepped forward.
"I represent Evelyn Hayes. We have reason to believe that several documents submitted in connection with Mercer Family Ventures contain unauthorized signatures.""
Graham looked furious.
"This is a family matter.""
"Not anymore," Beatrix replied.
She handed him a formal notice.
"Your company has been placed on notice of a potential dispute concerning the trust's controlling interest and unauthorized financial transfers.""
Graham stared at the document.
Then he looked at me.
"You have no idea what you're doing.""
"Actually, I do.""
He stepped closer.
"Your grandfather understood that the Mercer family needed stability. He understood the importance of keeping certain matters private.""
I looked at him.
"Is that what you call it?""
He lowered his voice.
"Your grandfather made promises.""
"Then show me the documents.""
He said nothing.
I continued.
"Because I have his original trust schedule. And it doesn't say what you think it says.""
Roland suddenly laughed.
It was an ugly sound.
"You think a piece of paper gives you power over this family?""
"No," I replied.
I looked at the trust document in my hand.
"Forty million dollars does.""
His smile vanished.
Beatrix took the opportunity to address the room.
"Until the disputed documents are reviewed, no successor beneficiary designation can be treated as approved. Ms. Hayes retains the controlling authority under the original trust provisions.""
Several guests exchanged looks.
One older man approached Graham.
"Is this true?""
Graham ignored him.
Roland turned to me.
"You're going to destroy everything over a baby?""
I looked at him.
"No, Roland. You tried to destroy everything over an inheritance.""
Camille suddenly began sobbing.
"Please stop! You're upsetting the baby!""
Alistair turned toward her.
"Then maybe you should stop lying about who the father is.""
She stared at him.
Then she did something I hadn't expected.
She pointed at Roland.
"He knew!""
Everyone turned.
Camille wiped her cheeks.
"Roland knew about Alistair from the beginning. He wanted the baby to secure the inheritance. He told me it was the only way.""
Roland grabbed her arm.
"Shut your mouth.""
She pulled away.
"Don't touch me!""
Graham's face turned crimson.
"Camille, enough.""
But Camille was no longer listening.
"He promised me that I'd be protected. He said nobody would ever know.""
Alistair shook his head.
"You promised me the same thing.""
She looked at him.
"I was trying to survive!""
I almost laughed.
Three people.
Three different versions of the same lie.
And all of them had believed they could use the truth whenever it benefited them.
Beatrix leaned toward me.
"We should leave before this becomes more chaotic.""
I nodded.
But as I turned, Roland caught my wrist.
"You're not leaving.""
I looked down at his hand.
Then back at him.
"Let go.""
He tightened his grip.
"You think you've won?""
I met his eyes.
"No. I think I've finally stopped losing.""
He released me.
I walked toward the doors.
Behind me, I heard Graham shouting.
I heard Camille crying.
And I heard Alistair say something that made the entire room fall silent.
"The baby isn't the only thing Roland has been hiding.""
I stopped.
Beatrix turned.
Alistair looked directly at Graham.
"Tell them what happened to Evelyn's grandfather.""
May you like
Graham's walking stick slipped from his hand.
And for the first time that afternoon, the old man looked afraid.
