Chapter 10 - TWO CHILDREN, ONE PLAN
The plan was bigger than Lily.
My father had intended to separate both children from me.
Lily through residential treatment.
Liam Jr. through an elite boarding school in Switzerland.
By the time Liam Jr. turned eighteen, he would be dependent on the family office for tuition, housing, and access to the company.
Dad expected loyalty.
Or at least obedience.
Rachel found tuition brochures in the safe-deposit box.
Marcus had already contacted one school.
Six years earlier.
I felt physically sick.
Liam Jr. read the papers beside me.
"He planned my life when I was ten?"
"Yes."
"Because of the company?"
"Yes."
He laughed once, but there was no humor in it.
"I thought he liked me."
That broke something in me.
"He may have."
"That's worse."
Love mixed with control was still control.
Nora traced the initials LJ — FUTURE CONTROL to an email chain between Dad and Marcus.
Marcus wrote:
The boy is easier. He wants approval.
Dad answered:
Then give it to him until we don't need to.
Investigators built the case around financial conspiracy, forged guardianship documents, child endangerment, evidence tampering, and attempted fraud.
Dad was dead.
But Marcus and Elaine were alive.
Victoria was cooperating.
The company board reopened six years of disputed transactions.
Then something happened nobody expected.
Marcus disappeared.
His phone went dark.
His house was empty.
A private jet had left Teterboro at 5:12 a.m.
Destination: Nassau.
Passenger manifest listed one person.
Marcus Voss.
But airport security footage showed two.
Marcus.
And a teenage boy in a baseball cap.
Nora called me.
"Liam, where is your son?"
I ran upstairs.
His bedroom was empty.
May you like
On his desk was a note.
Dad, don't call the police. I know what Grandpa hid. I'm going to get proof.
