Chapter 10 - Ghosts of the Atlantic
Arthur Vance had aged, his once-black hair now a storm of silver, but his eyes retained the predatory, calculating frost that had terrified Wall Street for four decades. He descended the gangplank slowly, his cane thumping against the wet timber with the deliberate cadence of a funeral drum. Julian immediately stepped aside, bowing his head like a chastised hound before his master.
""Eleanor,"" Arthur spoke, his deep baritone cutting through the howling wind. ""You look magnificent in navy. You always did know how to command a room.""
""You coward,"" Eleanor spat, stepping forward until she stood between her husband and Clara. ""You faked your death. You let me bury an empty box. You let your son rot in corruption while you hid like a rat.""
Arthur offered a low, mirthless chuckle. ""I didn't hide, my dear. I orchestrated. The federal indictments against Vance Maritime were going to dismantle everything we built. My death wiped the slate clean. Julian managed the assets, and I directed the strategy from the shadows. Everything was proceeding according to plan—until Julian allowed this venomous little viper into our home.""
Arthur pointed the tip of his cane at Clara.
""She is carrying a child, Arthur!"" Eleanor screamed, the rain plastering her styled hair to her face. ""A human life! Your son beat her half to death on your orders!""
""Look at her, Eleanor!"" Julian interrupted, stepping forward, his voice cracking with humiliated rage. ""She never loved me! She slept with her cousin to plant a bastard in our lineage and strip us of our board seats! She used me!""
""And what did you do to her family, Julian?"" Clara screamed back, stepping out from behind Eleanor, the gun raised in both hands. ""You murdered my parents! Arthur set that fire!""
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Arthur smiled—a cold, empty grin that showed too many teeth. ""Your parents were weak, Clara. Just like you. And just like the boy kneeling in the dirt.""
Arthur snapped his fingers. Julian drew a pistol from his coat pocket and leveled it directly at Lucas Thorne’s temple.
