Merchant’s Son Humiliated an Apprentice — But Her Father Owned the Trading House
Chapter 6
Anna ran.
She slipped past Thomas and disappeared into the alley.
Behind her, he shouted.
She did not stop.
By dawn, she reached the Hawthorne residence.
Jonathan was already awake.
When he saw the book in her hands, he closed the door.
“Where did you find that?”
“The customs warehouse.”
His face tightened.
“Who followed you?”
“Thomas Bell.”
Jonathan looked toward the window.
Then he lowered his voice.
“You must leave Greyhaven.”
“No.”
“Anna.”
“I know you were forced.”
Jonathan stared at her.
“You read it.”
“Yes.”
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he sat down.
Twenty years of silence seemed to settle across his shoulders.
“Your grandfather discovered that Vale was stealing cargo from independent merchants. He threatened to expose him.”
“What happened?”
“Vale threatened your family.”
“And you?”
“I was already in debt to him.”
Jonathan looked at the floor.
“He purchased my debts. Then he gave me a choice.”
Anna’s voice softened.
“What choice?”
“Sign the false accounts or watch your grandfather lose everything.”
Anna understood.
“And my grandfather?”
“His business collapsed.”
“Then he died.”
Jonathan closed his eyes.
“I have regretted it every day.”
Anna looked at the old merchant.
“You could have told us.”
“I tried.”
“To whom?”
“Your father.”
Anna’s eyes widened.
“He refused to believe me.”
Silence.
Then the office door opened.
Elias entered.
He stopped when he saw Anna.
“What is she doing here?”
Jonathan rose.
“Elias, listen carefully.”
But Elias saw the old account book.
His face changed.
“You found it.”
Anna stared at him.
“You knew.”
“I suspected.”
“How?”
Elias swallowed.
“Because Bell reports to me.”
Anna stepped backward.
Jonathan looked at his son.
“What did you do?”
Elias shook his head.
“Nothing.”
“Did you send him after her?”
“No.”
Anna studied him.
For the first time, Elias looked frightened rather than arrogant.
Then a gunshot cracked outside.
The window shattered.
Everyone dropped.
Jonathan grabbed Anna and pulled her behind the desk.
Elias crawled toward the wall.
Another shot struck the wooden door.
Someone outside shouted:
“Give us the book!”
Anna held it against her chest.
Jonathan whispered:
“Now you understand why I wanted you to leave.”
But Anna shook her head.
“No.”
She looked toward Elias.
“You told me everything has an owner.”
His eyes met hers.
Anna said:
“Then it’s time we find out who owns this.”
