CHAPTER 5 â THE FAMILY THAT CHOSE MONEY
CHAPTER 5 â THE FAMILY THAT CHOSE MONEY
The moment Evan saw the note, something inside him changed.
Before that night, he had still been searching for answers.
He wanted to understand.
He wanted explanations.
He wanted to believe that every person who hurt him had a reason.
But when he held Ellie's empty backpack in his handsâŠ
under the cold lights of the parkâŠ
there was no more room for excuses.
Someone had taken his daughter.
And whoever did it would answer.
"Evan."
Leah's voice broke beside him.
She stood frozen.
Her eyes were fixed on the backpack.
For a moment, she looked like the woman from four years ago.
The young mother who had been terrified of losing everything.
"I should have protected her."
The words came out quietly.
Evan turned immediately.
"No."
Leah shook her head.
"I should have known."
"No."
His voice became firmer.
"Do not do this."
She looked at him.
"Do what?"
"Blame yourself for someone else's choice."
A tear fell down her face.
"But I failed her."
Evan stepped closer.
"We both did."
The admission hurt.
But it was honest.
"I wasn't there for four years."
A pause.
"But I am here now."
He looked toward the dark street.
"And I am bringing her home."
The police arrived twenty minutes later.
Questions.
Reports.
Security footage.
Everything happened quickly.
But Evan noticed one thing.
The officers were treating it differently.
Not like a normal missing child case.
Because everyone knew who Sabrina Cross was.
And everyone knew who Evan Mercer was.
Money changed the speed of things.
But it did not change the fear in Evan's heart.
A detective approached him.
"Mr. Mercer."
"Any idea where she could be?"
Evan looked at the note.
"Yes."
The detective waited.
"Sabrina."
The detective nodded slowly.
"We thought the same."
Leah looked shocked.
"How?"
The detective hesitated.
"Because this isn't her first incident."
Evan turned.
"What do you mean?"
The detective opened a folder.
"Three years ago, a woman filed a complaint against her."
"Why wasn't anything done?"
The detective looked uncomfortable.
"Because the woman withdrew the complaint."
"Why?"
A pause.
"She said she was afraid."
That answer stayed with Evan.
Afraid.
The same word Leah had used.
The same word Sabrina had created in everyone around her.
Meanwhile, Sabrina sat in a private apartment across the city.
Ellie sat on the sofa.
A blanket around her.
A glass of juice beside her.
To anyone watching from outsideâŠ
it looked normal.
Almost caring.
But Ellie knew better.
She was scared.
"Where's Daddy?"
Sabrina smiled.
"He is probably looking for you."
"Then why can't I see him?"
"Because your mommy made mistakes."
Ellie frowned.
"Mommy is good."
Sabrina's smile disappeared.
"No."
Her voice became colder.
"Your mommy kept secrets."
Ellie hugged her toy tighter.
"But Daddy said she was hurt."
For a second, Sabrina froze.
Because that was not how she expected Evan to react.
She expected anger.
She expected him to hate Leah.
She did not expect him to choose her.
At the same time, Evan discovered something worse.
The investigation into Sabrina led somewhere unexpected.
His own family.
Richard Mercer arrived at the police station before Evan could contact him.
That alone was suspicious.
"Where is she?"
Evan looked at him.
"How did you know?"
Richard stopped.
A mistake.
Again.
"You knew."
Richard said nothing.
"You knew Sabrina would take Ellie."
"I knew she was unstable."
"Then why didn't you warn me?"
Richard looked away.
Because the answer was ugly.
"Because I thought this would end."
Evan stared.
"What does that mean?"
Richard sat down.
For the first time, the powerful businessman looked tired.
"Your relationship with Leah was a problem."
Evan's expression hardened.
"My daughter is not a problem."
Richard ignored the comment.
"The Carter family and the Mercer family were enemies."
"You keep saying that."
"Because you don't understand."
Richard opened his briefcase.
Inside were old documents.
"Twenty years ago, your grandfather and Leah's grandfather had a business war."
Evan looked at the papers.
"So?"
"So the winner controlled everything."
Richard looked at him.
"The Mercer family won."
A pause.
"But not completely."
Evan turned the pages.
And saw names.
Contracts.
Hidden agreements.
Then one document caught his attention.
A marriage agreement.
His blood went cold.
"What is this?"
Richard did not answer.
Evan read.
A UNION BETWEEN MERCER AND CROSS FAMILIES TO STRENGTHEN BUSINESS ALLIANCE.
His eyes moved down.
Names.
Evan Mercer.
Sabrina Cross.
A planned marriage.
Years before he met her.
"You arranged this?"
Richard looked uncomfortable.
"Not exactly."
"Then what?"
"Your grandfather did."
Evan laughed bitterly.
"Everyone planned my life except me."
Richard's silence confirmed it.
Then Evan noticed another name.
A name hidden at the bottom.
Leah Carter.
His face changed.
"Why is Leah's name here?"
Richard finally spoke.
"Because your family knew who she was."
"What does that mean?"
"It means Sabrina wasn't chosen because she loved you."
A pause.
"She was chosen because she could destroy Leah."
Evan felt sick.
All those years.
Every lie.
Every manipulation.
It was bigger than Sabrina.
Then his phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered immediately.
"Sabrina?"
A small voice responded.
"Daddy?"
Evan froze.
"Ellie?"
A shaky breath.
"Daddy, I want to go home."
His eyes closed.
Relief.
Fear.
"Where are you, sweetheart?"
Before Ellie could answer, another voice took the phone.
Sabrina.
"Now you understand, Evan."
His grip tightened.
"What do you want?"
"I want you to know the truth."
"You kidnapped my daughter."
"No."
Her voice remained calm.
"I saved her from a family that destroys everyone it touches."
"You are insane."
"No."
A pause.
"I am the only person who knows what your family did to Leah."
Evan looked at Richard.
And Richard looked away.
Sabrina continued:
"Ask your father what happened the night Leah disappeared."
The call ended.
Evan turned slowly.
"Father."
Richard said nothing.
"What happened that night?"
The older man closed his eyes.
And whispered the words Evan never expected to hear.
"I made sure Leah would never come back."
The room went silent.
Because Evan finally understood.
Sabrina had lied.
But she had learned from someone who was better at lying.
His own family.
And somewhere across the cityâŠ
May you like
his four-year-old daughter was waiting for him.
END OF CHAPTER 5
