Chapter 6: The Hidden Shareholder
Nathaniel didn't speak.
That scared me more than Adrian's confession.
My attorney had always been calm.
Even during lawsuits.
Even when companies collapsed.
But now he looked like someone had just opened a door he hoped would stay closed.
“Who owns the remaining shares?”” I asked.
Nathaniel looked at me.
“Evelyn…”
“No.””
I stepped closer.
“Tonight, everyone has told me what I can handle.””
My voice sharpened.
“I'm done being protected from the truth.””
Rebecca nodded.
“She deserves to know.””
Thomas looked away.
Victoria whispered, “This family is cursed.””
I turned to her.
“No.””
I looked around the ballroom.
“This family is full of people who thought they could lie forever.””
Nobody answered.
Nathaniel slowly opened his briefcase.
He removed another folder.
“This information was sealed.””
“By who?””
“Your father.””
My stomach tightened.
“My father sealed information about my own company?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Nathaniel looked at Thomas.
Thomas answered.
“Because he didn't trust anyone.””
The words hurt.
Because my father had trusted me with everything except this.
Nathaniel opened the folder.
Inside was a shareholder registry.
Not the public one.
The private one.
He placed it on the table.
I read the names.
Hawthorne Capital Holdings.
Vale Meridian.
Bellweather.
Then I saw a final entry.
*TRUSTEE: THE BLACKWOOD FAMILY FOUNDATION*
I frowned.
“Who are they?””
Nobody spoke.
Rebecca looked at Adrian.
“Tell her.””
Adrian laughed softly.
“You really want me to?””
“Yes.””
His smile faded.
“The Blackwood family was your father's first investor.””
“I don't know them.””
“You weren't supposed to.””
I looked at Nathaniel.
“Why?””
He hesitated.
“Because your father believed their influence could put you in danger.””
“That makes no sense.””
Adrian stepped forward.
“It does.””
Everyone looked at him.
For the first time, he wasn't defending himself.
He was warning me.
“Your father built Hawthorne Capital with their money.””
“So?””
“So they expected control.””
Thomas nodded slowly.
“Until your father refused.””
Rebecca touched her necklace.
“Daniel Hawthorne helped him break away.””
I looked between them.
“And this has what to do with Adrian?””
Adrian swallowed.
“Everything.””
The ballroom doors suddenly opened again.
A security officer hurried inside.
“Mr. Ross.””
Nathaniel turned.
“What is it?””
The officer handed him a tablet.
Nathaniel read.
Then his face lost color.
“What?””
I grabbed the tablet.
Nathaniel didn't stop me.
The screen showed a live update.
*COURT ORDER FILED: EMERGENCY ASSET FREEZE REQUEST AGAINST HAWTHORNE CAPITAL*
I looked up.
“Who filed this?””
Nathaniel's silence answered.
“Who?””
He finally said:
“The Blackwood Foundation.””
The room went silent.
Adrian gave a bitter smile.
“Now you understand.””
I looked at him.
“No.””
I shook my head.
“I understand that you betrayed me.””
His expression changed.
“But I also understand something else.””
“What?””
“You're scared of them.””
For once, Adrian didn't deny it.
Thomas looked toward the windows.
“They know about tonight.””
“How?””
Rebecca answered.
“Because someone inside this room told them.””
Every face turned.
Slowly.
Suspiciously.
I looked around.
Four hundred guests.
Board members.
Executives.
Family.
Friends.
Someone had been watching.
Someone had been waiting.
Nathaniel's phone rang.
He answered immediately.
“Ross.””
A voice came through.
His expression changed.
“Put it on speaker.””
He hesitated.
Then pressed the button.
A man's voice filled the ballroom.
Calm.
Older.
Controlled.
“Evelyn Hawthorne?””
I felt a chill.
“Yes.””
“I apologize for contacting you this way.””
“Who are you?””
A pause.
Then:
“Someone who knew your father better than anyone in this room.””
Thomas closed his eyes.
Rebecca whispered:
“No…”
The man continued.
“Your husband thought he could steal your inheritance.””
A pause.
“But Adrian made one mistake.””
I tightened my grip on the phone.
“What mistake?””
The man's voice became colder.
“He underestimated who your father prepared you to become.””
The ballroom was completely silent.
Then he said:
“Evelyn, if you want the truth about your father’s death, come alone.””
My blood ran cold.
“Who are you?””
The line went quiet.
Then the man answered:
“My name is William Blackwood.””
Adrian stepped back.
And for the first time that night, he looked terrified.
Because William Blackwood wasn't calling to threaten me.
May you like
He was calling because he knew something Adrian had been hiding.
Something about the night my father died.
