Chapter 6 - The Price of a Grandson
Julian finally talked.
Not because he wanted to.
Because Victor blamed him first.
“It was Julian’s idea to use the trust,” Victor snapped.
Julian turned.
“You arranged Mercer!”
“Because you owed everyone money!”
Sofia stared between them.
Lorenzo remained silent.
Sometimes angry men confessed faster when nobody interrupted them.
Victor pointed at his brother.
“Hale Capital is finished. Tell her.”
Sofia looked at Julian.
“What does he mean?”
Julian’s shoulders dropped.
Hale Capital was $84 million in debt.
Bad real estate deals.
Private loans.
Hidden investors.
Victor had borrowed from people who expected repayment.
Bianca mortgaged property without telling anyone.
The family had six weeks before lenders forced liquidation.
Then Julian discovered something.
Lorenzo was preparing to sell a minority share of Romano Logistics.
Estimated value: $400 million.
Julian approached Lorenzo months earlier asking to invest Hale Capital money in the deal.
Lorenzo refused.
“You didn’t have the liquidity,” Lorenzo said.
“You humiliated me.”
“I told you the truth.”
Julian hated him for it.
So the Hales created another plan.
They would take Nico.
Not permanently.
Just long enough.
Mercer would move him to a private property.
The Whitmores believed they were receiving a child legally.
That gave the Hales a temporary place where police wouldn’t immediately look.
Then Julian would privately approach Lorenzo.
Transfer $100 million into a Hale-controlled rescue fund.
Sign over a stake in Romano Logistics.
Nico would “miraculously” be located.
Sofia stared at her husband.
“You were going to kidnap our son and ransom him to my father.”
Julian shook his head.
“I never used that word.”
“What word would make it better?”
“I was desperate.”
Lorenzo’s voice was almost quiet.
“You made my grandson collateral.”
Julian exploded.
“You made me desperate!”
“No.”
Lorenzo stepped closer.
“Your greed made you desperate.”
Julian looked at Sofia.
“I would never have let anything happen to Nico.”
She recoiled.
“You allowed your brother to take him from his bassinet.”
“I was going to fix everything.”
“You were going to destroy me.”
Julian’s face hardened again.
“You always choose your father.”
Sofia almost laughed.
“Today I’m choosing my son.”
That hurt him more.
Police formally separated the Hale family for questioning.
Phones were seized.
Computers were secured.
Bank accounts were flagged.
Before Victor left the room, Lorenzo asked one last question.
“How long had you been planning this?”
Victor smiled bitterly.
“Ask Bianca.”
Everyone turned.
Bianca froze.
Victor continued.
“Julian thinks this started when Hale Capital ran out of money.”
He laughed once.
“It didn’t.”
Bianca whispered, “Victor.”
He ignored her.
“Tell them why you really wanted Sofia pregnant.”
Sofia felt the room shift.
She looked at Bianca.
“What does that mean?”
May you like
Victor’s answer made even Julian turn toward his mother.
“Because Nico wasn’t the first Romano baby she tried to control.”
