Chapter 11 - THE DEATH CHARLES EXPECTED
Police reopened the circumstances of Charles’s death.
Not as homicide.
As suspicious.
The autopsy had been limited because of age and known heart disease.
A preserved blood sample still existed.
Toxicology found no poison.
No overdose.
No unusual sedative.
Charles died of cardiac arrhythmia consistent with his condition.
Victoria exhaled.
Not relief exactly.
At least he had not been murdered.
Then the cardiologist revealed something stranger.
Charles had intentionally stopped one medication two days before death.
Against advice.
Why?
He believed someone was swapping pills.
He preferred known risk over unknown tampering.
Victoria was furious.
“He killed himself through paranoia.”
The doctor corrected:
“He increased his risk. That is not the same.”
But the meaning remained painful.
Charles’s fear contributed.
Then Richard found a voice recording from the cardiology visit.
Charles said:
“If I die, everyone will assume age. That is useful.”
Victoria stared.
Useful?
The doctor asked what he meant.
Charles laughed.
“Dead men get cleaner audits.”
Victoria almost hated him.
Even death became strategy.
Serena listened to the recording.
Then stood.
“I’m done.”
Everyone looked at her.
“With what?”
“This.”
She pointed at the files.
“He turned all of us into pieces.”
Elias said nothing.
Serena continued:
“He hid a son. Used Victoria as shield. Used me as villain. Used his own death to trigger an audit.”
Richard said:
“He also tried to protect the company.”
Serena laughed.
“From us?”
“Yes.”
That answer landed.
She looked at Elias.
“You still want to refuse the estate?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because everything he touched became a test.”
Serena looked at Victoria.
“And you?”
Victoria said:
“I want the truth finished.”
Serena closed her eyes.
“Of course you do.”
Then she did something no one expected.
She withdrew the incompetency petition.
Richard stared.
“Immediately?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Serena looked at Victoria.
“Because I know she’s competent.”
Victoria waited.
Serena continued:
“I filed anyway because I wanted control.”
No excuse.
The statement shocked the room.
Richard said:
“That admission can hurt you.”
“I know.”
For once, Serena chose consequence knowingly.
Then she added:
“But I’m not withdrawing my challenge to Elias.”
He smiled slightly.
“Would have been too easy.”
She looked at him.
“I still think Dad used guilt to hand you something you can’t manage.”
Elias nodded.
“He did.”
Serena paused.
“You agree?”
“Yes.”
“Then why fight me?”
“Because you think wanting it proves you deserve it.”
Serena stared.
Victoria almost smiled.
Then Richard interrupted.
“We may have a larger problem.”
Robert Mercer’s son’s fund had made an offer to purchase Mercer Holdings debt.
At a discount.
If accepted by lenders, they could gain blocking rights before the ninety-day succession period ended.
Robert was moving now.
Fast.
Serena looked at Elias.
May you like
He looked at her.
For the first time, they had the same enemy.
