Chapter 261

CAROLINE

The scream came from downstairs. Harrison's face went white.

"Mother," he breathed.

He ran for the door. The board members scattered. I stayed where I was, my fingers pressed against the doorframe. Let the chaos unfold. Let them panic.

Steven had Amanda in the foyer. His arm wrapped around her throat, bicep flexed tight. A gun pressed against her temple. The barrel left a small indent in her skin.

My husband. My brilliant, desperate husband.

"Stay back!" Steven's voice shook. Sweat dripped down his temples. "All of you! I'll shoot!"

"Uncle Steven—" Harrison stopped at the bottom of the stairs. His hands went up, palms out. "Please. Let her go."

"I can't." Steven's eyes were bloodshot, wild. "I've been looking for my daughter for twenty-two years. Twenty-two years, Harrison! I can't wait three more!"

The pregnant girl appeared behind Harrison. Her hand went to her belly. "Amanda," she whispered.

"Nobody move!" Steven's hand trembled. The gun shook against Amanda's head, metal scraping skin.

I descended the stairs slowly. Each step deliberate. Let them see me. Let them understand who held the real power here.

"Harrison," I said. "You have a choice to make."

"Aunt Caroline, tell him to put down the gun—"

"By five o'clock this afternoon, Mary needs to be home." I kept my voice steady. My nails dug into my palms. "Otherwise, Amanda dies."

Harrison's face went hard. A muscle jumped in his jaw. "You can't be serious."

"I'm completely serious." I stopped on the last step. The marble was cold under my feet. "You have two options. Bring Mary home, or prepare a funeral for your mother."

"You're insane," the pregnant girl said. Her voice was soft but clear.

I ignored her. Kept my eyes on Harrison. "If you bring Mary back, we'll forget everything that happened. You keep your CEO position. We go back to being a family."

"This is murder," Harrison said. His hands dropped to his sides, fists clenched. "You'll both go to prison—"

"Only if Amanda dies." I smiled. "The choice is yours."

Steven's arm tightened around Amanda's neck. She made a choking sound. Her fingers clawed at his sleeve, nails scraping fabric.

"Think about it, Harrison." I gestured to his mother. Her face was turning red. "Three years of Mary's life versus your mother's death. Which matters more?"

Harrison looked torn. His eyes moved between me and his mother. Good. Let him struggle. Let him feel what I'd felt every day Mary was locked away.

A gunshot exploded through the foyer. The sound was deafening. My ears rang.

Steven screamed. His arm dropped. Blood poured from his shoulder, dark and thick. It soaked through his shirt sleeve. The gun clattered to the floor.

I spun around. My heart stopped.

Father stood at the top of the stairs. He held a pistol in his steady hand. His eyes were cold and clear. Alert. Awake.

No. This wasn't possible.

"Mr. Xavier!" Thomas appeared behind him, face pale. His hands reached for Father's arm.

Father was awake. Father was standing. Father had shot my husband.

Everything fell apart in that moment. All my plans. All my careful work.

"Dad," I whispered. My throat closed up.

"Don't call me that." Father descended the stairs. Each step was measured, deliberate. His hand gripped the railing. "Your mother's name was Claire. She died in childbirth bringing you into this world. I named you Caroline after her."

My knees went weak. "Dad, please—"

"I had two children. A son and a daughter. And I loved you more." His voice was steady but his eyes held such pain. Lines deepened around his mouth. "I gave you everything. Protected you from every hardship. And you poisoned me."

"I didn't mean to hurt you!" The words burst out. Tears burned my eyes. "I just needed Harrison to bring Mary home. That's all I wanted!"

"You put toxins in my body." Father reached the bottom of the stairs. His knuckles were white on the pistol grip. "You risked my life for your own agenda."

"I love my daughter!" Tears ran down my face. My makeup smeared. "Just like you love me! I did what any mother would do!"

"Any mother would trust the law." Father's hand tightened on the gun. The metal creaked. "Not betray her own father."

I dropped to my knees. The marble was hard and cold. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I wasn't thinking—"

"You were thinking." Father's voice was tired now. His shoulders sagged. "You thought you could manipulate everyone. Use my illness to force Harrison's hand. But you underestimated him."

"Please." I grabbed his leg. The fabric of his pajama pants bunched in my fists. "Please forgive me. I'll do anything—"

"Get up." Father stepped back. His leg pulled free. "You're embarrassing yourself."

I stayed on my knees. He could see me broken. He could see my tears. My ruined makeup. My desperation.

"I understand wanting your daughter back," Father said. His hand trembled slightly. "I understand that desperation. But poisoning your own father? That's unforgivable."

"I know!" I slapped myself across the face. Hard. The sound echoed in the foyer. Pain exploded across my cheek. "I'm not human! I'm worse than an animal!"

I hit myself again. And again. My vision blurred. Blood filled my mouth. Copper taste on my tongue.

"Stop that." Father's voice was flat. Empty. "It won't change anything."

I looked up at him through my tears. Mascara stung my eyes. "What do you want me to do?"

"I want you to leave." Father turned away. His back was straight but his steps were slow. "All of you. Get out of my house."

"Dad—"

"I'm tired. I need to rest." He walked toward the stairs. His hand found the railing again. "Thomas, help me back to my room."

The drug maker—Young—crawled forward. His bloody hands left red smears on the white marble. His fingernails were gone, raw flesh exposed.

"Mr. Xavier, please!" He grabbed Father's ankle. Blood stained Father's pajama leg. "I was forced! Ms. Moore threatened me! Please, have mercy!"

Father looked down at him. No emotion on his face. "You tortured my body for money. Why should I show you mercy?"

"I have information!" Chen's voice rose. Spit flew from his mouth. "A secret! Something huge! Just let me tell you privately—"

"Harrison," Father said. His voice was cold. "Remove this man from my house."

"Wait!" Young's desperation was palpable. His whole body shook. "It's about your family! About the Moores! You need to hear this!"

Father hesitated. His hand tightened on the railing.

Harrison moved forward. "Grandfather, you shouldn't be alone with him—"

"Everyone out." Father's voice was final. "Except Thomas. He stays."

"But—"

"Out. Now."

Harrison looked at the pregnant girl. She nodded slightly. They left together, Harrison supporting his mother. Amanda's legs barely held her weight.

The board members scattered. Security guards dragged Steven away. He was still bleeding, still screaming. His blood left a trail across the floor.

I stayed on my knees. My stockings were torn. My knees ached. "Dad, please—"

"You too, Caroline." Father didn't look at me. His eyes stayed fixed on the stairs ahead. "Go."

"I'm your daughter—"

"You stopped being my daughter when you put poison in my food." Father's voice was empty. Dead. "Now get out before I have you arrested."

I stood slowly. My legs shook. My heels clicked on the marble as I found my balance. Everything I'd planned, everything I'd done—it was all falling apart.

But maybe there was still a chance. Maybe Father would forgive me eventually. Time healed wounds. Family was family.

"One more thing," Father said as I reached the door.

I turned back. Hope flickered in my chest. Maybe—

"You're no longer welcome in this house. Or in Moore Corporation. Your shares will be transferred to Harrison." Father's eyes were ice. "You're disowned."

The hope died. Shriveled into nothing.

I walked out of the house. My home. The place I'd grown up. The foyer where I'd learned to walk. The stairs I'd run down as a child.

Steven was being loaded into an ambulance. Blood soaked through the bandages on his shoulder. Police cars surrounded the property, lights flashing red and blue.

Everything was gone. My father. My position. My future. My family name.

All because of that pregnant girl and her interference. All because Harrison chose principles over family.

This wasn't over. Not by a long shot.

I'd find a way to make them all pay. Every single one of them.