Chapter 9 - The Ledger

The financial records revealed a second betrayal.

Corvin's father had received payments from Harlan Mercer.

But the money had not gone into his personal account.

It had been placed into a community fund.

His father had tried to undo his mistake by secretly rebuilding the resources Harlan had taken.

The account had grown for decades.

Then, after his father's death, the money disappeared.

Daniel knew where to look.

At a regional bank.

Corvin and Daniel met with an attorney named Miriam Shaw, who specialized in land trusts.

She reviewed the documents.

“This is enough to challenge the transfer claim,” she said. “But the missing trust money is a separate matter.”

“Can we recover it?”

“If it still exists.”

Miriam traced the account.

The money had moved through three companies.

The final recipient was Black Creek Cattle Company.

Corvin stared at the statement.

Silas had not only tried to buy the land.

He had taken the money meant to protect it.

Miriam warned him not to confront Silas.

“Preserve everything.”

Corvin agreed.

Outside the bank, Ruth approached.

“My father knows.”

“How?”

“He has people watching the bank.”

Corvin looked at her.

“Why aren't you afraid?”

“I am.”

Then Ruth revealed something worse.

Her father had discovered the old agreement required a public hearing before any land transfer.

He planned to create enough financial pressure to force Corvin to sell.

“The ranch is heavily mortgaged.”

Corvin knew about the mortgage.

What he didn't know was that the debt had been purchased by a Mercer-controlled company.

He had been trapped without realizing it.

Miriam offered one path.

“If the trust can be restored, the mortgage may become subject to challenge.”

“But the trust is gone.”

“No,” she said. “The trust may have been hidden.”

She pointed to the brass key.

“Your father expected you to find this.”

Corvin looked at the number.

417.

Miriam smiled slightly.

“Find the box.”

May you like

92 The Girl They Called Broke Was a Billionaire’s Daughter—But Her Fathe...

91 A Cruel Hotel Manager Fired a Receptionist for Defending a Poor Old G...

90 On Christmas Eve, My Daughter-in-Law Stole $12,000 From My Card—Then...

That night, Corvin realized the key might not open something at the ranch.

It might open something in a place where his father had hidden the truth from everyone—including his own son.