Chapter 1 — The Woman Brooke Thought She Could Control
Chapter 1 — The Woman Brooke Thought She Could Control
“I said wake her.”
Brooke's voice was soft.
That made it worse.
Emma Collins had worked at the Mercer estate for eleven years. She had learned that Brooke Harrington rarely raised her voice when she was angry.
She didn't need to.
Brooke's quietness was usually the warning.
Emma folded the edge of the breakfast cloth between her fingers.
“Natalie had a difficult night.”
Brooke's eyes narrowed.
“So did I.”
“You were asleep at midnight.”
Brooke stepped closer.
“And how would you know?”
Emma said nothing.
Behind the service door, Dominic Mercer stood perfectly still.
His jaw tightened.
Brooke had never spoken to Emma like this before.
At least, not when he was around.
She turned toward the staircase.
“Go upstairs.”
Emma didn't move.
Brooke sighed.
“You're becoming difficult.”
“I've only been asked to wake Mrs. Mercer.”
“Then do it.”
Emma finally nodded.
“Yes, Miss Harrington.”
She turned.
“Emma.”
She stopped.
Brooke's expression changed.
“Tell Natalie to bring the trust documents with her.”
Emma looked over her shoulder.
“What trust documents?”
“The ones Catherine left.”
There it was.
The first crack.
Dominic's eyes hardened.
Brooke knew exactly what she was asking for.
The Catherine Mercer Family Trust had been established long before Brooke entered the family.
It contained the eastern cottage, several investment properties, and a protected fund for Natalie and Noah.
Dominic himself couldn't liquidate those assets without the trustees' approval.
And Brooke certainly couldn't.
So why did she want the documents?
Emma lowered her eyes.
“I don't know where they are.”
Brooke smiled.
“I think you do.”
“No, ma'am.”
“Then perhaps we should discuss your employment.”
Behind the door, Dominic's hand curled into a fist.
Emma swallowed.
“I'm sorry.”
Brooke stepped even closer.
“Do you know what happens to servants who forget who they work for?”
Emma looked at her.
“Yes.”
“Good.”
Brooke handed her the leather folder.
“Give this to Natalie.”
Emma took it.
The weight of it felt wrong.
Too heavy for paper.
“What is it?”
“An agreement.”
“What kind of agreement?”
Brooke smiled.
“The kind that will make everyone's life easier.”
Emma walked upstairs.
She could feel Dominic watching from somewhere behind her.
But she didn't look back.
She had known him long enough to understand his silence.
He wasn't angry anymore.
He was thinking.
And when Dominic Mercer became quiet, someone usually had a reason to be afraid.
Emma reached Natalie's bedroom.
She knocked.
No answer.
She knocked again.
“Natalie?”
A faint voice came from inside.
“Come in.”
Emma opened the door.
Natalie was sitting beside the window.
Noah was asleep on the sofa.
His small body was curled beneath a blanket.
Natalie's face looked exhausted.
She hadn't slept.
Emma closed the door behind her.
“Brooke wants you downstairs.”
Natalie's eyes immediately changed.
“Why?”
“She said to bring the trust documents.”
Natalie went pale.
“Did she say why?”
“No.”
Emma handed her the folder.
“This was for you.”
Natalie stared at it.
Then at Emma.
“Did she give you this?”
“Yes.”
Natalie didn't open it.
“Emma…”
“Yes?”
“If Dominic is really coming home today…”
Emma froze.
“What?”
Natalie looked toward the sleeping child.
“Noah said Uncle Dominic was coming home.”
Emma's heart skipped.
“He told you?”
“He called him last night.”
“Then he knows.”
Natalie looked confused.
“Knows what?”
Emma lowered her voice.
“Everything.”
Behind the service door, Dominic watched Brooke leave the pantry.
She walked toward the library.
He waited ten seconds.
Then followed.
The library doors were slightly open.
Brooke entered.
Dominic stopped outside.
He could hear her speaking on the phone.
“No, he hasn't arrived.”
A pause.
“Yes, I'm sure.”
Another pause.
“Saturday.”
Dominic's eyes narrowed.
The wedding.
Brooke continued.
“Once I'm Mrs. Mercer, everything changes.”
Silence.
Then she laughed.
“You're worrying too much.”
Dominic slowly reached for his phone.
He started recording.
Brooke's voice became lower.
“The trust is the only problem.”
A man's voice came faintly through the phone.
Dominic couldn't hear the words.
Brooke answered:
“I'll handle Natalie.”
Another pause.
“No. She won't fight me.”
Dominic's expression hardened.
“She has nowhere else to go.”
He felt something cold settle inside him.
Brooke continued.
“And the boy?”
Dominic stopped breathing.
“What about Noah?”
The man's voice came through again.
Brooke answered:
“Once the house is transferred, he'll have to leave too.”
Dominic's eyes closed.
Noah.
His nine-year-old nephew.
The child his mother had loved more fiercely than anything in the world.
Brooke was planning to throw him out of his grandmother's home.
Dominic opened his eyes.
The man on the phone asked something.
Brooke laughed.
“No. Dominic won't object.”
Another pause.
“Because he trusts me.”
Dominic almost smiled.
Not because it was funny.
Because she was about to discover how badly she had misunderstood him.
The call ended.
Brooke slipped the phone into her robe.
Then she walked toward the desk.
Dominic moved away from the door before she opened it.
He returned to the pantry.
Emma was coming back downstairs.
She stopped when she saw him.
“Sir.”
Dominic lifted one finger.
“Did you give Natalie the folder?”
“Yes.”
“What did she say?”
“She didn't open it.”
“Good.”
Emma hesitated.
“Sir…”
“What?”
“She's frightened.”
Dominic's expression softened.
“I know.”
“She thinks Brooke is going to take the house.”
“She isn't.”
Emma looked at him.
“Are you sure?”
Dominic looked toward the library.
“Yes.”
Then his phone buzzed.
A message from his head of security.
WE HAVE A PROBLEM.
Dominic opened it.
A photograph appeared.
Someone had accessed the estate's private legal archives at 3:14 that morning.
The security footage showed Brooke.
Dominic stared at the image.
Then another message arrived.
SHE DIDN'T GO ALONE.
A second photograph appeared.
A man entering through the east gate.
Dominic zoomed in.
His expression changed.
He knew the man.
His name was Marcus Hale.
A former attorney for Catherine Mercer.
And three years earlier, Catherine had fired him.
For stealing from one of her accounts.
Dominic looked at Emma.
“Where is Brooke?”
“Library.”
“Don't let her know I'm here.”
Emma stared.
“Sir?”
“I want to know what she does when she thinks I'm still in London.”
At nine in the morning, Brooke called everyone into the dining room.
Natalie arrived carrying the leather folder.
Noah followed her.
He looked tired.
Brooke smiled.
“Good morning.”
Noah didn't answer.
Natalie sat down.
Brooke placed a cup of coffee in front of her.
“I thought we could settle something today.”
Natalie looked at the folder.
“What is this?”
“A simple agreement.”
“I haven't read it.”
“You don't need to be nervous.”
“I am not nervous.”
Brooke smiled.
“You should be.”
Emma stood against the wall.
Her stomach tightened.
Brooke slid the folder across the table.
“Sign this.”
Natalie opened it.
Her eyes moved down the first page.
Then stopped.
“No.”
Brooke's smile disappeared.
“What?”
“I won't sign this.”
“It's temporary.”
“It transfers my rights to the eastern property.”
“Only until the wedding.”
“Why?”
“Because Dominic and I will be managing the estate together.”
Natalie shook her head.
“Dominic never told me that.”
Brooke leaned forward.
“Dominic doesn't need to tell you everything.”
Natalie closed the folder.
“He does when it concerns my home.”
Brooke's voice became colder.
“Your home?”
“Yes.”
“This is a Mercer property.”
“My mother-in-law left it to Noah and me.”
“Your mother-in-law is dead.”
The room went silent.
Noah looked up.
Brooke continued.
“You should be grateful Dominic allowed you to stay this long.”
Natalie's hands began shaking.
Emma stepped forward.
“Miss Harrington—”
“Stay out of this.”
Noah stood.
“Don't talk to my mom like that.”
Brooke turned toward him.
“This is an adult conversation.”
“You're making her sad.”
Brooke's expression hardened.
“Sit down.”
“No.”
Natalie immediately reached for Noah.
“It's okay.”
Brooke stood.
“Your mother won't be able to protect you forever.”
Noah looked at her.
“She doesn't have to.”
Brooke frowned.
“Excuse me?”
“Uncle Dominic will.”
Brooke laughed.
“Your uncle is in London.”
“No.”
Everyone turned.
Noah looked toward the hallway.
“He came home.”
Brooke's face went pale.
Emma looked toward the same doorway.
And then Dominic walked in.
He wasn't wearing a suit.
He wore a black shirt, dark trousers, and the same expression Emma had seen only a handful of times.
Cold.
Controlled.
Dangerous.
Brooke stood frozen.
“Dominic?”
He looked at her.
“Good morning, Brooke.”
Her lips parted.
“You came back.”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“This morning.”
Brooke glanced toward Emma.
Then Natalie.
Then Noah.
Her entire expression changed.
She rushed toward him.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
Dominic stepped aside before she could embrace him.
“I wanted to surprise you.”
She forced a smile.
“Of course.”
He looked at the table.
“What are we discussing?”
Brooke laughed nervously.
“Nothing important.”
Dominic picked up the folder.
Natalie tried to stop him.
“Dominic…”
He opened it.
His eyes moved across the page.
Then he looked at Brooke.
“You want Natalie to sign over her rights.”
“No.”
“That's what this says.”
“It's temporary.”
“Why?”
“Because we're getting married.”
Dominic closed the folder.
“And?”
Brooke hesitated.
“I thought it would simplify things.”
“For whom?”
“For us.”
Dominic's voice remained calm.
“You mean for you.”
Brooke's face tightened.
“Why are you acting like this?”
“Like what?”
“Like you don't trust me.”
Dominic smiled.
It wasn't a warm smile.
“I haven't said anything about trust.”
“You don't have to.”
She stepped closer.
“After everything I've done for you…”
Dominic looked at her.
“Everything?”
“Yes.”
“Interesting.”
He placed the folder on the table.
Then he turned toward Natalie.
“Did she threaten you?”
Natalie shook her head.
“No.”
Dominic looked at Noah.
The boy hesitated.
Then quietly said:
“She said Mom has to leave.”
Brooke's face changed.
“Noah—”
“Is that true?”
Dominic's voice was directed at Brooke.
She swallowed.
“He misunderstood.”
“He's nine.”
“He doesn't understand adult matters.”
Dominic nodded.
Then looked at Noah.
“Go upstairs.”
Noah obeyed.
But before leaving, he looked at Dominic.
“Are you staying?”
Dominic crouched.
“Yes.”
Noah nodded.
“Okay.”
The boy ran upstairs.
Dominic stood.
Then his gaze returned to Brooke.
“You told him his mother was being thrown out.”
“No.”
“You told him Catherine's house belonged to you.”
“I never said that.”
Dominic reached into his pocket.
He placed his phone on the table.
Then pressed play.
Brooke's own voice filled the dining room.
“Once I'm Mrs. Mercer, everything changes.”
Brooke froze.
The recording continued.
“The trust is the only problem.”
Her face went white.
Then:
“I'll handle Natalie.”
And finally:
“Once the house is transferred, he'll have to leave too.”
Silence.
Dominic stopped the recording.
Brooke stared at him.
“You recorded me?”
“Yes.”
“You can't do that.”
“I own the house.”
“That doesn't mean—”
“And you weren't talking to a friend.”
Her eyes flickered.
Dominic noticed.
“Who was the man?”
Brooke said nothing.
“Marcus Hale?”
Her face went completely still.
Dominic smiled faintly.
“That's what I thought.”
Brooke tried to recover.
“You're misunderstanding everything.”
“Then explain.”
“I was protecting the family.”
“From what?”
“From Natalie.”
Dominic's eyes hardened.
“Why?”
“She doesn't understand how dangerous your family is.”
“My family?”
“Yes.”
“Yet you want control of its trust.”
“I want to help you.”
“By stealing from my sister?”
“I wasn't stealing.”
“You were asking her to sign away property your mother left to her.”
Brooke stepped closer.
“You're going to marry me.”
Dominic stared at her.
“That is still the plan.”
Hope flashed across her face.
Then Dominic added:
“For now.”
Her smile disappeared.
He picked up the folder.
“I'll see you tonight.”
“Where are you going?”
“To find out what you and Marcus were planning.”
Brooke grabbed his arm.
“Dominic.”
He stopped.
She lowered her voice.
“You don't want to do this.”
His eyes met hers.
“That's a threat.”
“No.”
“Good.”
He removed her hand.
Then walked away.
Emma watched Brooke standing alone in the dining room.
For the first time since Brooke had arrived at the mansion, she looked afraid.
But Emma knew fear wasn't the same thing as surrender.
Brooke's phone vibrated.
She looked at the screen.
One message.
HE KNOWS ABOUT MARCUS.
Brooke immediately replied.
THEN WE MOVE TONIGHT.
Emma saw it.
Her blood ran cold.
She quietly stepped away.
But Brooke noticed.
Their eyes met.
For several seconds, neither woman spoke.
Then Brooke smiled.
“Emma.”
“Yes?”
“Would you like to keep your job?”
Emma forced herself to remain calm.
“Yes.”
“Then forget everything you heard.”
Emma nodded.
“Of course.”
Brooke walked away.
Emma waited until she disappeared.
Then she pulled her own phone from her pocket.
One message was already waiting.
From Dominic.
DID SHE THREATEN YOU?
Emma typed:
YES.
A reply came immediately.
GOOD. LET HER THINK YOU'RE AFRAID.
Emma stared at the screen.
Then another message appeared.
I NEED YOU TO FIND OUT WHAT'S INSIDE THE SAFE IN HER BEDROOM.
Emma's heart began pounding.
She had worked at the Mercer mansion for eleven years.
She had cleaned Brooke's room.
Served her breakfast.
Folded her clothes.
But she had never entered that room after midnight.
And she had never touched Brooke's private safe.
Tonight, she would.
At 11:48 p.m., the mansion fell silent.
Brooke's lights went out.
Emma waited.
Ten minutes.
Twenty.
Then she quietly climbed the servants' staircase.
She reached Brooke's bedroom.
The door was unlocked.
Emma stepped inside.
The safe was hidden behind a painting.
She moved it aside.
There.
She entered the code she had seen Brooke use weeks earlier.
The lock clicked.
Inside were passports.
Bank statements.
A stack of photographs.
And one sealed envelope.
Emma picked it up.
The name on it made her blood run cold.
CATHERINE MERCER.
The woman who had been dead for six months.
Emma opened it.
Inside was a single handwritten page.
She read the first sentence.
And nearly dropped it.
If Dominic has brought Brooke into this house, he is already in danger.
Emma's breathing stopped.
She read the next line.
Do not trust the woman he intends to marry.
Then the final sentence:
And whatever you do, never let Brooke discover that Dominic knows the truth about his father's death.
A floorboard creaked behind her.
Emma slowly turned.
Brooke stood in the doorway.
Her face was expressionless.
Her eyes were not.
“You should have listened to me,” she whispered.
Emma couldn't move.
Brooke stepped into the room.
“You were told to forget.”
Emma tightened her grip around Catherine's letter.
Then another voice came from the hallway.
“She's not the one who should be afraid.”
Brooke turned.
Dominic stood there.
And for the first time that night, Brooke realized something terrifying.
He hadn't been testing her anymore.
May you like
He had been waiting for her to reveal herself.
And she had just done exactly that.
