Chapter 9 - SEVENTY-TWO HOURS
At 2:13 the next morning, Lily heard shouting in Richard’s study.
She opened her bedroom door and moved quietly toward the staircase.
Julian stood beside the desk with his phone on speaker.
A man’s voice filled the room.
“You guaranteed payment by Friday.”
Julian’s face had lost all color.
“I need more time.”
“You already had time.”
Richard took the phone.
“You will receive the full amount.”
“Seventy-two hours,” the man replied. “After that, the loan documents go to Hartwell’s board and the federal auditors.”
The call ended.
Julian turned on Richard.
“You said you could get the money.”
“I can.”
“She won’t sign.”
Richard poured himself a drink.
“She will.”
Lily returned to her room before they saw her.
The next morning, Evelyn examined the brass key.
“It opens a safe-deposit box registered by your mother.”
They went to the bank together.
Inside the box was a sealed envelope marked with Lily’s name.
But before Evelyn could open it, her phone rang.
Her face tightened.
“What is it?” Lily asked.
“Your father filed an emergency petition claiming you are medically incapable of controlling your finances.”
Lily stared at her.
“He did it already?”
“The hearing is in four days.”
Evelyn placed the sealed envelope inside her briefcase.
“We need medical statements, financial records, and every threat they have made.”
Lily handed her the false invoices.
Evelyn read the first page.
“This is not just family pressure. This may be corporate fraud.”
Outside the bank, Lily’s knees weakened.
Evelyn caught her before she fell.
“You need to go to the hospital.”
“I need to stop my father.”
“You need to stay alive long enough to stop him.”
Lily agreed to be examined.
But when she returned to the mansion hours later, her bedroom had been searched.
Her laptop was gone.
So were her medications.
A note lay on her pillow.
May you like
SIGN BEFORE FRIDAY, AND EVERYTHING WILL BE RETURNED.
👉 Richard had taken the medication controlling Lily’s failing heart—and the seventy-two-hour deadline had already begun.
