She Rejected the Heir, I Married Him Chapter 07

She Rejected the Heir, I Married Him Chapter 07

Julian’s retaliation hit harder than I’d expected.

The day after Vivian spread her rumors through the private club chats, the IRS and securities regulators opened investigations into suspected accounting fraud at Pembroke Holdings,

At the same time, Mercer Capital submitted the complete evidence to the audit committee and regulators and publicly disclosed a short position against the company.

Over three consecutive trading days, Pembroke Holdings lost seventy percent of its stock value and teetered on the edge of bankruptcy.

The Whitmores were doing no better.

The suspension of the Crescent project triggered a chain reaction.

Several major projects Nathaniel had been so proud of ground to a halt.

Collection letters from banks and default notices from suppliers flooded Whitmore Design Group’s legal inbox.

That evening, I showered and settled onto the bedroom couch with a book.

Julian came in and tossed a file onto the table.

“The Pembrokes’ bankruptcy liquidation is underway.”

He loosened his tie and approached me.

“Feel better?”

I closed my book and looked up.

“What if I say no?”

He chuckled, almost indulgently.

“Then we’re not done.”

“No laws need to be broken. No threats, either.”

“We only have to send their hidden audit papers, altered records, and false reports to the right people. They’ll destroy themselves.”

He leaned over me, bracing his hands on either side of the couch and caging me in his shadow.

He was overwhelming, but I didn’t dislike it.

“Nathaniel cornered you today.”

It wasn’t a question.

“Yes.”

“What did he say?”

“That I’m heartless. That I’ve changed.”

A cold look flashed through Julian’s eyes.

“That’s all he’s got.”

“If he comes near you again, my attorneys will seek a restraining order. Security will document

every instance of harassment.”

He delivered the ruthless words as calmly as anything else.

That was Julian Mercer.

He didn’t care about being reasonable. He protected what was his.

My phone rang.

There was no saved name on the screen, but I recognized Nathaniel’s private number.

I left it unanswered.

Julian glanced at it.

“Answer.”

He straightened.

“Put it on speaker.”

I did as he asked.

“Clara…”

Nathaniel’s voice was almost unrecognizably hoarse. Loud voices filled the background, as if he/

were in a private lounge.

Clara, I was wrong.”

It was the first time he’d said that to me in eight years.

“I know I was wrong. I shouldn’t have made you take her place. I shouldn’t have sided with Vivian.”

“Please ask Julian Mercer to leave my family alone.”

He sounded close to tears.

“Help me this once, and I’ll never speak to Vivian again. I promise.”

“I’ll marry you. I really will!”

Before I could react, Julian laughed.

The sound was cold enough to cut.

The other end of the line went silent.

“Mr. Whitmore,” Julian said slowly.

“You’re offering to marry my wife in front of me.”

“Is your family not going under fast enough for you?”

Nathaniel sounded terrified.

“C-Julian Mercer…”

“This recording will go to Crescent’s independent investigation committee tomorrow morning, along with the evidence of the altered documents.”

There was no warmth in his voice.

“The banks, the board, and the regulators can decide whether Whitmore Design Group survives

another day.”

“That’s what happens when you call business coercion love.”

He ended the call and looked at me.

“Feeling sorry for him?”

“No.”

I met his eyes.

“He makes me sick.”

Julian studied me for two seconds, then reached out and brushed his thumb along my cheek.

“Clara. Your taste in men was terrible for those eight years.”

I didn’t pull away. I simply held his gaze.

“It was.”

“That’s why I chose the best this time.”

His thumb stilled.

The air between us seemed to stop moving.

His eyes darkened.