Chapter 15 - Peter's Escape
Peter Lang entered the farmhouse through the back door.
He looked different without his usual suit.
No polished smile.
No professional calm.
Just exhaustion.
Fear.
And rage.
Claire stayed behind Samuel.
“You escaped.”
Peter laughed bitterly.
“Not exactly.”
Caleb stepped into the doorway.
“You were released.”
“Temporary transport.”
Peter stared at him.
“So you're alive.”
Caleb's jaw tightened.
“You knew.”
Peter smiled.
“I knew everything.”
Claire stepped forward.
“You destroyed my family.”
Peter's expression hardened.
“No.”
“You manipulated Wesley.”
“Yes.”
“You tried to take my house.”
“Yes.”
“You used Martin's death.”
“Yes.”
“You hurt Audrey.”
“I never touched Audrey.”
“You lied.”
“I lied to everyone.”
Peter lowered the gun.
“But I never killed Martin.”
Claire stared.
“Then why are you here?”
“To stop Caleb.”
Caleb laughed.
“You're too late.”
Peter looked at Claire.
“You think Caleb is protecting you.”
“He is.”
“No.”
Peter shook his head.
“He is protecting his son.”
Claire froze.
“Where is Caleb's son?”
Peter looked toward Nora.
“She knows.”
Nora stared at him.
“Don't.”
Peter raised his gun slightly.
“Nora, tell her.”
Claire looked at Nora.
“Who is Caleb's son?”
Nora's eyes filled with tears.
“Wesley.”
The silence was absolute.
Claire looked toward her son in horror.
“No.”
Wesley's voice came from behind her.
“Mom?”
Everyone turned.
He had entered the farmhouse.
Claire stared at him.
“Wesley.”
He looked confused.
“What are they talking about?”
Peter smiled.
“Ask your mother about your birth.”
Wesley turned pale.
“I know who my father is.”
Caleb stepped forward.
“Your biological father is me.”
Wesley stared.
“No.”
Nora began crying.
“You were born after Caleb disappeared.”
Wesley looked at Claire.
“Mom?”
Claire couldn't answer.
She remembered the first years of Wesley's life.
The strange secrecy.
Martin's insistence on adopting him immediately.
The stories about his birth.
Had Martin known?
Yes.
The journal.
Primary holder unless replaced by blood heir.
Blood heir.
Wesley.
Claire sat down.
Martin had not simply protected Wesley.
He had protected a child whose existence could destroy the entire Mercer network.
Wesley stared at Caleb.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
Caleb whispered, “Because you were safer believing Martin was your father.”
“You let him raise me.”
“Yes.”
“He was my father.”
Caleb nodded.
“He was.”
Wesley looked at Claire.
“Did you know?”
“No.”
He believed her.
Claire saw that immediately.
“I swear.”
Wesley began crying.
Peter stepped closer.
“This is why Martin created the trust.”
Claire looked at him.
“To protect Wesley.”
“And to prevent anyone from discovering his bloodline.”
Peter shook his head.
“That's not all.”
He handed Claire a document.
Wesley's birth certificate.
The father field had been altered.
The original was underneath.
Caleb's name.
Claire felt sick.
“You forged it.”
“No.”
Peter shook his head.
“Martin did.”
The room went silent.
Claire stared at the document.
Then at Wesley.
Martin had legally changed the record.
He had erased Caleb from the paperwork to keep Wesley alive.
Peter continued.
“Your husband made one final mistake.”
“What?”
“He trusted me to keep the secret.”
Claire laughed bitterly.
“You betrayed him.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I wanted the trust.”
Caleb stepped closer.
“You wanted the money.”
Peter looked at him.
“No.”
He lowered his voice.
“I wanted the company.”
Claire frowned.
“What company?”
Peter smiled.
“The company your father created before the network ever existed.”
Nora looked horrified.
Claire's mind raced.
“You mean the security company.”
“Yes.”
Peter's smile disappeared.
“It still exists.”
Claire stared.
“Where?”
May you like
Peter looked directly at her.
“Under your name.”
