Chapter 5 - The Blackwood Legacy TrapThe weight of James's words hung in the air like a lethal gas. Robert felt the terrifying pieces of the puzzle violently click into place.
The fake accident five years ago wasn't just a random tragedy; it was James's execution squad trying to eliminate the primary shareholders of Stellar Retreats. Catherine had barely escaped the burning vehicle, realizing that if she went to the police or to Robert, James’s syndicate would finish the job and kill them both—and potentially the unborn child she was carrying.
"You destroyed my life," Robert whispered, his voice trembling with a terrifying, controlled fury. "You killed my wife's peace, you stole twenty-five years of my family, and you turned my daughter into a fugitive living in the dirt."
"Business, Robert. Nothing personal," James mocked, waving a hand dismissively. "And speaking of business, you signed a rather interesting contingency clause into the Stellar Retreats founding documents back in '98. Remember? In the event of the primary founder's incapacitation or death without a validated direct heir, controlling shares revert to the surviving senior Blackwood partner."
James smiled, flashing white teeth. "And since I am the eldest surviving partner—legally resurrected via an emergency trust petition we filed this morning—the board of directors in Tokyo is voting on my reinstatement as CEO as we speak."
"You're insane," Robert spat. "The board will never accept a fraud."
"Try telling that to the board members whose offshore accounts I've spent the last six months quietly purchasing," James replied smoothly. He turned to the two heavy-set guards behind him. "Take the girl and Mrs. Blackwood. Put them in the lead vehicle. As for my dear brother... well, accidents in rural towns happen all the time, don't they? A tragic car crash on the way back from a late-night drive. How poetic."
The guards stepped forward, their massive frames blocking the doorway.
Catherine screamed, clawing at James's suit jacket, but one of the guards effortlessly shoved her back against the metal shelves, sending jars and old cans crashing to the floor.
"Don't you touch them!" Robert roared, lunging forward with all his might.
He caught the first guard completely off guard, driving his fist hard into the man's jaw. The thug stumbled back, but the second guard slammed the butt of a heavy flashlight down onto Robert's shoulder, sending a shockwave of agony through his bones. Robert dropped to one knee, gasping for air.
"Daddy!" Emma screamed, tears streaming down her face as she was scooped up by the second guard like a rag doll.
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"Let her go, you bastard!" Robert shouted, trying to claw his way back to his feet, vision blurring at the edges.
Just as the guards began dragging Catherine and Emma toward the waiting SUVs, the pitch-black sky above the valley was suddenly ripped apart by a deafening, thunderous roar.
