THE BRICK THAT DESTROYED THEIR PERFECT PLAN

Harrison Cole disappeared the next morning.

His office receptionist claimed he was "unavailable indefinitely."

His home was empty.

His phone was disconnected.

But at 9:06 a.m., a courier arrived at Sadie's apartment.

No return address.

Inside the package was a flash drive and a handwritten note.

If Harrison fails to contact you, view this with Wyatt present.

Sadie's hands shook as she inserted the drive.

There was one video.

The screen opened on Harrison sitting behind a desk.

The date stamp was six months earlier.

"If you're seeing this," he began, "then Richard Carter has failed to contain the situation."

Wyatt moved closer.

Harrison continued.

"Charles Carter did not die fifteen years ago."

Sadie covered her mouth.

"He withdrew from public life after discovering a systematic effort to seize control of Carter Meridian Holdings through altered trust documents, falsified incapacity reports, and coercive transfers."

Harrison looked exhausted.

"Your father was involved."

Sadie closed her eyes.

She had expected lies.

Cruelty.

Manipulation.

Not this.

"Charles could not safely expose the scheme at the time because several participants held positions inside the company, the family bank, and the legal trust administration."

Harrison lifted a folder.

"So he disappeared."

Wyatt whispered, "Jesus."

"Charles retained beneficial control through a separate irrevocable structure. The primary beneficiary is Sadie Elizabeth Carter."

Sadie opened her eyes.

Harrison continued.

"The estate activates in stages. The first stage occurs upon Sadie's twenty-eighth birthday."

That had been four months ago.

"The second stage occurs upon a legally recognized marriage entered voluntarily and without financial coercion."

Sadie's blood ran cold.

Wyatt looked at her.

There it was.

The reason.

The engagement.

The panic.

Harrison said, "Once the second stage activates, Sadie receives voting control of Carter Meridian Holdings, authority over three family trusts, access to sealed audit records, and standing to challenge all transfers executed by Richard Carter after Charles's disappearance."

Sadie stared at the screen.

Wyatt murmured, "That's why he tried to buy me off."

Harrison continued.

"There is more."

Of course there was.

"If Sadie dies before marriage, the controlling interest passes not to Richard, but to the next qualifying descendant."

Sadie's eyes moved slowly toward Wyatt.

"Melanie," they said together.

On screen, Harrison shook his head.

"No."

They both froze.

"The next qualifying descendant is not Melanie Carter."

Sadie's heart began to pound.

Harrison looked directly into the camera.

"Because Melanie is not Richard Carter's biological daughter."

Sadie stood so suddenly the chair fell backward.

"What?"

Wyatt paused the video.

"Sadie."

"No."

She paced.

"No, no, no. That can't be right."

"Maybe Harrison is wrong."

"He doesn't sound wrong."

She pressed play again.

Harrison's face reappeared.

"The identity of Melanie Carter's biological father is relevant to the conspiracy. It is also one reason Victoria Carter has cooperated with Richard for so long."

Sadie felt nauseated.

"If Richard successfully prevents Sadie's marriage until she turns thirty, a temporary trustee gains control for another decade. Richard believes that trustee is loyal to him."

Harrison leaned closer.

"He is mistaken."

The video flickered.

Then Harrison said, "Sadie, if your father becomes violent, understand that the violence is not spontaneous. He is losing time."

The video ended.

Sadie looked at the calendar.

Her wedding was scheduled in nine weeks.

Wyatt said, "We move it up."

She stared at him.

"What?"

"We get married tomorrow."

"No."