Chapter 221
Chapter 221:
“He’s not using the market,” Weston added, eyes on his tablet. “He’s liquidating offshore accounts, family trusts — everything he can reach. He’s using the cash to hire private investigators and corporate spies, leaking years’ worth of the Lunas’ illegal shipping manifests and money laundering operations to the SEC and the FBI. It’s a financial murder-suicide. He’s burning his own family’s remaining reputation to take the Lunas down with him p>
“He’s bankrupting his own family to destroy yours,” Dallas said, the strategy clicking into place. “It’s a suicide mission p>
“He’s trying to outdo you,” Eliza whispered. A heavy stone settled in her stomach. “He’s destroying himself so I’ll owe him p>
“It’s working,” Azalea said. “The Hyde name is being dragged through the mud right alongside the Lunas. His parents are frantic p>
The door opened again. Cathey Norton stepped in, eyes wide with carefully manufactured concern. She was the new marketing intern Ferd Koch had forced onto the company payroll the previous month — a girl rumored to be Ferd’s illegitimate daughter.
“Oh, look,” Cathey chirped, her voice thick with malice. “The grieving widow Koch. Or should I say, the almost-ex-wife? Did the lawyers file the papers before he died, or did you just hit the inheritance jackpot p>
𝘔о𝘳𝘦 𝗇𝗈𝗏e𝗹𝘀 𝗈𝗇.сo𝗺
Eliza stiffened. The sheer venom was startling even from her.
“Get out, Cathey,” Dallas growled from the bed.
Cathey startled, realizing he was very much alive. “I — I was just checking on you. For Anson p>
“Tell Anson he’s next,” Dallas said.
The Hyde Estate was grand, but it felt cold. Servants whispered in the hallways.
Eliza could hear Anson shouting from the study before the door even opened.
“Leak the Panama accounts! Now! I don’t care about the blowback p>
Edward opened the door. “Anson — look who is here p>
Anson turned. He looked manic — hair disheveled, sleeves rolled up, eyes wild. “Eliza?” He rushed toward her, stopping just short of her sling. “Are you hurt? Did they hurt you p>
“I’m fine. Stop this, Anson,” Eliza said firmly.
“I’m destroying them.” He gestured to his computer screens, which blazed with leaked bank records. “The Lunas. For what they did to you p>
“You’re destroying your parents.” Eliza pointed to Edward and Victoria, huddled by the door. “Your future p>
“I don’t care!” Anson shouted. “If I don’t have you, I don’t need a legacy! I’m doing this for you p>
“This isn’t love,” Eliza snapped. “This is a tantrum p>
Anson went still. “A tantrum? I am avenging you p>
“Dallas handled the Lunas. The FBI is already involved. You are just making noise,” Eliza said, cutting through his justification cleanly.
“Dallas,” Anson laughed — a short, bitter sound. “Always Dallas p>
“He protects me without destroying himself,” Eliza said. “You destroy everything just to prove a point p>
“I did it for you! Five years ago! I built this company for us!” Anson pleaded.
“You built it for yourself. To control me.” Eliza refused the guilt that tugged at the edges of her resolve. “Stop this, Anson. Or I will never speak to you again p>
“If I stop…” Anson looked at her with desperate, pathetic hope. “Will you stay p>
“No,” Eliza said. “But I will forgive you. Eventually p>
It was a crumb. But for a starving man, it was a feast.
Anson looked at his parents. Then at Eliza. Then he slumped into his chair, picked up the phone, and spoke quietly. “Kill the data drop p>