Chapter 505
If she hadn’t admitted fault back then, Adrian’s plan would have deprived Mira of water for three whole days.
That could have killed a child!
At the time, Lacey had thought it was fine, a little hardship to build character. But now that she had experienced it firsthand, she realized how unbearable it truly was.
Last night, when the men stepped out for dinner, she tested the ropes and realized the knot was loose. She scrambled free and ran for her life.
Looking back, she felt pretty resourceful. Otherwise, who knew how long she would have suffered?
But the reality stung: since yesterday, not a single one of her children had come to visit her. She felt an overwhelming sense of isolation.
She had given birth to five children-four sons and a daughter-—each one brilliant and extraordinary. Yet, she had managed to alienate every single one of them.
Lacey was safe at home, and Ethan didn’t pursue the investigation. Adrian’s involvement remained a mere suspicion. Since the actual kidnappers had vanished, there was no concrete evidence. Adrian and Wyatt didn’t spend much time behind bars before being released.
However, the very first day Adrian stepped out of the precinct, a mob of creditors blockaded his front door.
The company’s stock was plummeting, and anyone with eyes could see the Mercer Group was finished.
In the past, overdue payments to partners, tangled corporate debts, favors, and bank loans were normal operating expenses. During the group’s peak, no one panicked because they knew they would get paid with interest. Lenders practically threw money at them, knowing a partnership was lucrative.
But not anymore. If the company went under, all those investments would vanish into thin air.
Seeing the aggressive mob before he even reached his door, Adrian coughed up a mouthful of blood and collapsed.
Fiona and Mara rushed out at the commotion, finding him on the ground with blood pooling beside him. Snapping out of her shock, Fiona immediately dialed 911.
She turned to the angry crowd. “His health is failing. You all better back off and not push him too hard. If he stays alive, you still have someone to collect from If he dies, you money is completely gone
Her words silenced the creditors. It was infuriating, but she was right.
The ambulance arrived shortly, and some of the creditors even helped load him in.
Mara stayed behind to guard the house while Fiona reluctantly accompanied Adrian to the hospital.
Fiona cursed her wretched luck. She had finally managed to marry Adrian, and before she could even enjoy the luxury, she was slapped with a bankruptcy crisis.
Sometimes, she found herself
envying Lacey. Lacey had lived in luxury as the high-and-mighty Mrs Mercer when the company was thriving, and right before the collapse, she walked away, leaving this apocalyptic mess for Fiona.
Now, Fiona had to pray Adrian survived. Not out of love, but because he was their only lifeline.
Her own family had no power or
wealth, and her daughter, Mara, was utterly incompetent. Fiona herself
past her prime the idea of
was past
snagging another billionaire was a
pipe dream.
If Adrian died, they would be helpless orphans and widows. No one would give them a second glance.
In contrast, Lacey had a powerful maiden family and five incredibly capable children. God, the woman was lucky!
Even though she had foolishly severed ties with them, Fiona knew those five had boundaries. If anyone crossed the line, they would intervene.
Look at what happened when they tried to toss Lacey out. If Lacey ever decided to exact revenge, Fiona wouldn’t even know what hit her.