Chapter 10 - The Sunrise Vote
The emergency board meeting was real.
Collins had used forged medical reports, staged security incidents, and Sarah's planted sedatives to argue that Ethan's household was unstable.
The petition named Victoria as interim guardian.
Even after the wedding was canceled, the filing remained active.
Nathan called the court clerk.
"The judge hasn't seen the baby-monitor footage."
"Send it."
"I'm sending everything."
Ethan checked the clock.
5:18 a.m.
The board vote began at six.
Sarah sat with Leo in a secure conference room while Ethan and Nathan joined remotely.
Victoria was in police custody.
Collins was under arrest.
Daniel was still missing.
The board chair, Margaret Sloan, looked exhausted on screen.
"Mr. Mercer, we have received serious allegations."
Ethan held up his phone.
"You have serious fraud."
Nathan presented the pharmacy video.
The cloned credentials.
Caroline's letter.
Collins's confession.
Then the baby-monitor footage.
The room went silent when Victoria's voice played:
"Your father won't choose you forever."
The chairwoman removed her glasses.
"This proceeding is suspended."
Ethan exhaled.
Then a new participant joined the video call.
DANIEL VALE.
His camera was off.
Margaret frowned. "Who is this?"
Daniel's voice came through.
"Someone with evidence the Mercers still haven't shown you."
Ethan leaned forward.
"What are you doing?"
"Finishing what Caroline started."
A file appeared in the meeting chat.
Ethan opened it.
Bank transfers.
Not from Leo's trust.
From Mercer Foundation accounts to private medical consultants.
One consultant was Dr. Lang.
Ethan stared.
His own physician.
Nathan said, "These payments are recent."
Daniel replied, "Ask why Dr. Lang kept Ethan overnight for food poisoning."
Ethan remembered waking groggy.
The photograph from the first threatening message.
The capacity report.
He called Lang.
No answer.
Detective Chen sent officers to the doctor's home.
Empty.
Then Sarah's phone rang from the mansion.
Maria the cook was whispering.
"Sarah, someone is in the nursery again."
"Leo's with me."
"I know."
"What are they doing?"
"Taking his medicine."
Sarah stood.
"Who?"
Maria inhaled sharply.
"Dr. Lang."
Then the call cut off.
Ethan looked at Sarah.
The board meeting no longer mattered.
May you like
Someone was destroying evidence.
And the doctor who had treated both Ethan and Leo was inside their home.
