Nadia squeezed my hand tighter, her face pale in the dim light of the heart monitor.

“Why should I believe you?” Luke asked.

“Because I hate him as much as you do,” Vivian whispered.

“He controls everything, Luke.”

“He wants the Mercer bloodline pure, and he wants you under his thumb forever.”

“I found the papers in Elena’s old apartment before Father’s men could get there.”

“But they are missing the final signature.”

“I went to the hospital to get it from her, to secure them so Father can’t use them as leverage.”

“You are lying,” Luke said.

“I am not!” Vivian raised her voice, a rare note of panic bleeding through.

“Ask your head of security.”

“Ask Marco who was lurking in the alley behind Elena’s place yesterday.”

“It wasn’t my men. It was Father’s.”

Through the speaker, I heard a sharp rustle of paper.

“Look at this,” Vivian said.

“These are the bank drafts Father’s lawyers prepared.”

“He is already setting the trap to freeze all of Elena’s assets.”

“If you keep digging into her finances, he will know you are helping her hide the money.”