Everyone Laughed at the Single Father at the Reunion—Then a Billionaire Crossed the Room for Him
Chapter 10
Thomas could not continue.
Clara was asleep upstairs.
Nathaniel looked at him.
“You don’t have to read it tonight.”
Thomas shook his head.
“No.”
He unfolded the letter.
Your father is the strongest man I know.
Thomas closed his eyes.
The next lines explained why.
Before Thomas and Margaret married, Thomas had once worked for Nathaniel’s father.
He had discovered that the old Blackwood company was involved in fraudulent land transfers.
He had refused to sign false records.
He had been dismissed.
Margaret had admired him for it.
Thomas had forgotten.
He had thought his dismissal was simply because he was poor and inexperienced.
It had been because he had refused corruption.
The letter continued.
Thomas does not know how important his refusal was.
He believes he failed.
He did not.
Margaret had spent years protecting him.
She had never told him because she feared Vale would discover the truth.
Thomas lowered the letter.
Nathaniel placed a hand on his shoulder.
“You were there at the beginning.”
Thomas looked at him.
“I don’t remember.”
“You were young.”
“I thought I was nobody.”
Nathaniel smiled.
“You weren’t.”
The next morning, Vale arrived at the farm.
He came with six men.
Thomas stood on the porch.
“You have no business here.”
Vale held up a legal document.
“This farm is under investigation.”
Thomas looked at it.
“Forged.”
Vale smiled.
“Prove it.”
Nathaniel stepped beside Thomas.
Vale’s expression darkened.
“You should leave, Blackwood.”
“No.”
Vale looked at Thomas.
“You don’t understand the game you’re playing.”
Thomas answered quietly:
“I understand enough.”
Vale lowered his voice.
“Your daughter could be taken from you.”
Thomas went still.
Nathaniel’s face hardened.
“Careful.”
Vale smiled.
“I am only offering advice.”
He turned.
Then Thomas noticed something.
One of Vale’s men was carrying a familiar leather case.
It belonged to Judge Mercer.
Thomas looked at Nathaniel.
“That’s the man who searched the mill.”
Nathaniel nodded.
The conspiracy reached into the court.
And they needed to expose it before Vale could use the law against them.
