Chapter 3 - The Kneeling of Richard Hale
My father looked at the screen, then at Ethan, and finally at Daniel Mercer.
The realization hit him like a physical blow. Hale Development wasn't just struggling; it was completely, irrecoverably bankrupt. The debt was no longer held by a lenient regional bank that could be bribed or delayed with country club lunches.
It was owned by Daniel Mercer. A man whose wife my father had just slapped across the face in front of fifty witnesses.
“Mr. Mercer...” Richard Hale gasped, his pride completely shattering into jagged, pathetic pieces.
He let go of the table.
In front of his brother, his sister, his business partners, and his new daughter-in-law’s wealthy family, Richard Hale dropped to his hands and knees on the champagne-soaked floor.
He crawled two steps forward, stopping at Daniel’s polished leather shoes.
“Mr. Mercer... please,” my father wept, real, terrified tears streaming down his wrinkled cheeks, ruining his expensive silk tie. “I didn't know! I swear to God I didn't know she was your wife! I was stressed... the business... we were going under! Please, have mercy! Don't destroy my family!”
Daniel didn't step back. He looked down at the man crawling at his feet with the same expressions one might give a venomous snake that had just broken its own teeth.
“You didn't know she was my wife,” Daniel said softly. “So that made it acceptable to strike her?”
Richard shook his head frantically, his grey hair disheveled. “No! No! I was wrong! I’m a fool! Vicky... Vicky, please tell him! Tell him I’m your father! I raised you! I gave you everything!”
I looked down at the man who had called me a mistake ten minutes ago.
I remembered sitting in my tiny college apartment twelve years ago, working two night jobs to pay my law school tuition because my father had cut off my funding the moment I refused to major in corporate business to serve Ethan’s needs. I remembered calling him on his birthday every year, only to be told that I was a bitter, selfish disappointment because I wasn't helping the family firm.
“You didn't give me everything, Dad,” I said, my voice entirely steady, devoid of anger, sad, or revenge. It was just the plain, cold truth. “You gave Ethan everything. You gave me your contempt.”
“Victoria, please!” my mother suddenly wailed, rushing forward from her table, throwing her arms around my father’s shoulders as he wept on the floor. “He’s your father! How can you be so heartless?! We are your blood!”
“Blood didn't stop him from hitting her, Mrs. Hale,” Daniel stated, his tone as sharp as a razor. “And blood will not stop Mercer Capital from exercising its full legal remedies.”
Daniel looked up at Arthur Pendelton. “Arthur, execute the immediate acceleration clause on the debt. Seize all pledged assets, including the Hale Development headquarters, the corporate accounts, and the residential properties registered under Richard and Ethan Hale.”
“No!” Ethan screamed, stepping forward, his hands balling into fists. “You can't do that! It’s my wedding night! You can't take my penthouse!”
Two of Daniel’s uniformed security officers stepped into Ethan’s path instantly. One of them casually placed a heavy hand against Ethan’s chest, pushing him back three feet as if he were a minor inconvenience.
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“Mr. Ethan Hale,” Arthur Pendelton added, pulling a second, blue-tinted folder from his satchel. “You should also be aware that an unredacted copy of these forensic spreadsheets was delivered to the State Attorney General’s Financial Crimes Division thirty minutes ago. Federal marshals are currently executing a search warrant at your corporate offices.”
Ethan’s knees gave out. He sank onto a chair behind him, his head falling into his hands as his bride pulled her diamond ring off her finger, threw it at his face, and walked out of the ballroom without saying another word.
