Chapter 4 - The Five Million Dollars
Marcus opened a secure banking application on his phone.
“The transfer wasn’t sent to Ms. Hayes.”
Damian’s head turned.
“Where did it go?”
“To a shell company called North Coast Consulting.”
Natalia crossed her arms.
“That means nothing.”
Marcus looked at her.
“You were listed as its managing officer.”
The warmth seemed to vanish from the boutique.
Katelyn stared at Natalia.
Five million dollars.
The exact amount Damian believed Katelyn had stolen.
Natalia’s mouth opened.
Then closed.
Damian’s voice remained controlled.
“My father paid you five million dollars?”
“It wasn’t for me.”
“Then who was it for?”
Natalia looked toward the bodyguards.
“I’m not discussing private family business in front of employees.”
Damian’s jaw tightened.
“These men have buried people for my family.”
The boutique went completely silent.
Damian’s eyes darkened.
“And they have never lied to me.”
Katelyn felt fear spread through her body.
Not because of the words themselves.
Because Damian had spoken them like fact.
She had spent three years trying to convince herself that the stories surrounding the Blackwood name were exaggerated.
Now she saw the bodyguards’ expressions.
No shock.
No denial.
Only discipline.
Damian noticed her reaction.
His voice softened.
“Katie.”
“Don’t.”
“I would never hurt you.”
“You let me believe you might.”
His face tightened.
Natalia stepped in quickly.
“She knew what you were. She left because she was afraid.”
Katelyn turned toward her.
“I left because two men showed me photographs and said Damian wanted me gone.”
Damian looked at Marcus.
“Find them.”
“We will.”
Natalia’s eyes widened.
Katelyn saw it.
So did Damian.
“You know who they were,” he said.
“No.”
“You reacted.”
“I’m reacting because this is insane.”
Damian moved one step closer.
Natalia backed away.
“Who were they?”
“I don’t know.”
He continued forward.
She struck the edge of a display table and stopped.
Damian did not touch her.
He did not raise his voice.
“Who?”
Natalia’s composure broke.
“Your father’s men.”
Katelyn closed her eyes.
The room tilted.
Damian’s father had forced her away.
Natalia had known.
Damian had believed Katelyn stole millions.
Every year of silence had been built by people who benefited from keeping them apart.
Damian turned away from Natalia as if looking at her had become unbearable.
“Why?”
She stared at Katelyn’s stomach.
“Because Vincent knew what would happen if Damian chose her.”
Katelyn’s hand tightened over her belly.
“What would happen?”
Natalia’s voice came out thin.
May you like
“The trust would pass to their child.”
👉 The unborn baby was tied to a Blackwood inheritance so powerful that Damian’s father had been willing to erase Katelyn from his son’s life.
