The Last Move of a Desperate Man
Chapter 14 - The Last Move of a Desperate Man
Charles could no longer control the company.
But he still knew its secrets.
He leaked documents to the press suggesting Ethan had manipulated Richard to gain access to the Hale fortune.
The headlines were brutal.
HOMELESS CARPENTER TARGETS BILLIONAIRE FAMILY.
MYSTERY GRANDDAUGHTER OR MILLION-DOLLAR SCAM?
Reporters appeared outside Lily's school.
Ethan was furious.
He wanted to take Lily and disappear.
Richard begged him not to.
"Running is what Emma had to do."
"I'm protecting my daughter."
"So am I."
"You don't know what that means."
Richard absorbed the words.
Maybe once they had been true.
But not anymore.
Instead of using lawyers to silence the press, Richard did something unexpected.
He called a press conference.
Standing in front of Hale & Whitmore, Richard accepted full responsibility.
"My daughter did not abandon this family."
The cameras flashed.
"I abandoned her."
Ethan watched from home.
Richard continued.
"I allowed pride, prejudice and false information to cost me twenty-three years with my child."
Then he addressed Ethan.
"Mr. Cole has never asked me for money."
Finally, he spoke about Lily.
"My granddaughter is a child. She is not a headline."
Public opinion shifted overnight.
But Charles had one final weapon.
A document claiming Emma had secretly placed Lily's inheritance under Charles's control.
May you like
And unlike his earlier forgeries, this document appeared completely authentic.
If it was valid, Charles could legally claim control of nearly forty million dollars intended for Lily.
