Chapter 9 - The Grandmother's Secret
Thea froze completely, staring down the barrel of the gun.
"You set this entire thing up just to let Julian win," Thea accused, her voice trembling slightly.
Astrid laughed, a dry, humorless sound that sent chills down Thea's spine.
"You have absolutely no idea how this family operates, child," Astrid said, stepping further into the room.
Before Astrid could pull the trigger, the study door was kicked violently open.
Julian rushed into the room, holding a revolver of his own.
"Give me those documents immediately, mother!" Julian demanded, glaring at Astrid.
Astrid calmly turned her weapon away from Thea and aimed it directly at Julian's chest.
"I am not protecting you, Julian, I am protecting this company from a hostile takeover by your greedy board," Astrid declared.
Thea realized with staggering clarity that Astrid had manipulated everyone to flush Julian's corruption into the open.
Chaos erupted as Julian wildly lunged forward, grabbing Thea by the arm and pulling her in front of him as a human shield.
"Drop the gun, or the girl dies!" Julian screamed, pressing the barrel of his revolver against Thea's temple.
Suddenly, Lachlan stepped into the doorway, standing tall and utterly imposing.
He dropped his white cane onto the hardwood floor.
He reached up, slowly pulled off his dark glasses, and tossed them aside.
Lachlan looked directly into his uncle's eyes with a gaze full of lethal, burning clarity.
"Let my wife go, Julian," Lachlan commanded, perfectly tracking his uncle's terrified movements.
Julian gasped in absolute shock, realizing the blindness had been a lie for three years.
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In a panic, Julian shoved Thea aside and wildly fired his weapon at his nephew.
The bullet struck Lachlan in the shoulder, throwing him backward against the heavy oak doorframe.
