Chapter 9 - THE FATHER WHO KNEW MORE THAN HE SAID.
Charles Mercer claimed Daniel knew Price Industries was collapsing months before the engagement.
According to him, Daniel encouraged Ella’s relationship with Owen because he wanted access to internal Price records.
Ella’s engagement had become a pathway into a company her father intended to acquire cheaply after its failure.
Daniel denied using his daughter.
He admitted he distrusted Owen but believed Ella needed to discover his character without being ordered to leave him.
That answer only deepened her hurt.
A father who secretly tested his daughter’s judgment was still treating her life as something he controlled.
Ella asked whether he knew about the hidden prenuptial amendment.
Daniel said no.
She asked whether he knew Vivian planned to undermine his medical capacity.
He had learned of it three nights earlier.
Instead of warning Ella immediately, he waited so his investigators could collect stronger evidence.
The powerful men on both sides had made the same mistake.
They believed Ella could endure humiliation because their strategy required patience.
Daniel apologized.
But Ella did not accept the apology yet.
Love did not erase the fact that he had allowed her to walk into a room designed to break her.
Charles then revealed his own role.
He had stolen Daniel’s authorization codes and helped Owen move pension funds.
Daniel discovered the fraud and dismissed him quietly to avoid damaging Ward Capital’s reputation.
That silence allowed Charles to continue the scheme at Price Industries.
Daniel’s decision to protect his company image had cost factory workers millions.
Ella turned toward her father.
“You didn’t steal their money. You protected the man who did.”
Daniel lowered his eyes.
For the first time, the most powerful man in the room had no defense.
Nathan said the workers deserved repayment before either family protected its reputation.
Ella agreed.
She ordered the Ward acquisition fund redirected into an emergency pension reserve, pending legal approval.
Owen laughed.
“You can’t move that money without your father’s consent.”
Daniel removed a document from his jacket.
That morning, he had transferred voting control of Ward Capital to Ella.
But before she could take it, Mr. Hale noticed the date.
May you like
The transfer had been signed six months earlier.
Daniel had known this night was coming.
