The Heiress He Underestimated novel Chapter 109

The Heiress He Underestimated

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Chapter 109 The Trap

Elera squeezed her aunt’s hand, touched by the gesture even as her mind raced through implications and strategies. “I appreciate that more than you know. But Aunt Margaret, you need to be careful. If my father thinks you’ve betrayed him, if he knows you came here to warn me, he might retaliate.”

“Let him try,” Margaret said with surprising steel in her voice. “I’ve spent sixty years being scared of powerful men. Your grandfather, your father, all the men in the family who thought they could control us with fear and money. I’m done being scared. Whatever happens, let it happens. But at least I’ll know I did the right thing.”

They talked for a while longer, with Margaret sharing what little else she knew about Kieran’s plans and Elera reassuring her that she’d be safe at the compound if she needed a place to stay. Eventually, Margaret left, looking lighter somehow despite the heavy conversation. Like telling the truth had lifted a weight she’d been carrying for too long.

After she was gone, Elera immediately called an emergency meeting. Drakonius, Frost, Simon, and Anya all gathered in the library within fifteen minutes..

“We have a problem,” Elera said, and proceeded to fill them in on everything Margaret had told her.

Frost’s expression grew grimmer with each word. “If Valdris, Sarah, and Kieran are working together, we’re dealing with a coordinated attack from multiple fronts. That’s significantly more dangerous than three separate enemies.”

“They’ll share intelligence,” Drakonius added. “Pool resources. Cover each other’s weaknesses. It’s a smart and strategically move. Frustrating, but smart.”

“So what do we do?” Elera asked.

“Simple, we get ahead of it,” Drakonius said. “You were planning to reveal your identity as the CEO of Nethys Medical eventually, right? Do it now. Before they can. Control the tale yourself instead of letting them control it.”

“But that will expose another huge part of my life. Another secret I’ve kept for years. People will start wondering what else I’m hiding.”

“They’re already wondering that,” Frost pointed out. “The Raven Shadowmere reveal opened that door. People are digging, speculating and making connections. Your aunt said your father is hiring investigators. Others probably are too. The secret was never going to last forever. The question is whether you reveal it on your terms or theirs.”

Elera knew he was right. She’d known from the moment she stepped onto that stage at the gala that everything would change, that one secret leading to light would expose all the others eventually. She’d just hoped for more time.

“Okay,” she said, making the decision. “We do it. But we do it right. Carefully planned, maximum impact, complete control of the message. Clara can help with the media strategy. We time it so it overshadows whatever my father is planning. Make him irrelevant.”

“I’ll contact the board at Nethys Medical,” Drakonius said. “Prepare them for the announcement. They’ve probably already figured it out anyway if they’re smart.”

Chapter 109 The Trap

Finished

“And I’ll increase security at all your company locations,” Frost added. “If Valdris and Sarah are involved, they might try something physical as well as digital. Sabotage, corporate espionage, maybe even violence. We need to be ready for anything.”

The meeting continued for another hour, everyone contributing ideas and raising concerns. By the time they finished, Elera had a comprehensive plan for her next big reveal and hopefully, this one would be more controlled than the last.

As everyone dispersed to handle their assignments, Drakonius stayed behind. “How are you holding up?”

“I’m okay,” Elera said automatically. Then, more honestly, “I’m overwhelmed. This is happening so fast. A week ago I was just trying to save your life and stay hidden. Now I’m revealing identities left and right, my father’s on TV crying fake tears, and apparently there’s some kind of supervillain team up happening.”

“Supervillain team up,” Drakonius repeated, a smile tugging at his lips. “Is that the technical term?”

“It is now.” Elera managed a tired smile back. “How are you feeling? Physically, I mean. With everything going on, I haven’t checked your vitals today.”

“I feel good. Better than good, actually. The tremor in my hands is almost gone. The fatigue is manageable. I slept through the night without waking up from nerve pain. Whatever adjustments you made to the protocol, they’re working.”

“That’s good,” Elera said, and meant it. At least something was going right. “We need to run another full panel of tests soon. Make sure the acceleration is stable, not causing any unexpected side effects.”

“Always the doctor,” Drakonius said fondly. “Even in the middle of a crisis, you’re still thinking about cellular regeneration.”

“It’s easier than thinking about everything else.”

He moved closer, close enough that she could feel the warmth of him. They’d slept in the same bed last night, fully clothed and on top of the covers, but it had been intimate in its own way. Comfortable and very right.

“We’re going to get through this,” he said quietly. “All of it. Your father, Xan, Sarah, whoever sent that message. We’ll handle it together and we’ll come out the other side.“.

‘You’re very optimistic for a man who was dying a month ago.”

‘I have something to live for now,” he said simply. “That makes all the difference.”

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