Chapter 7 - Jade's Secret
When Thomas returned home from the chaotic board meeting, he found an entire fleet of black SUVs parked in his driveway.
Men in dark suits and earpieces were standing at the perimeter of his property, looking incredibly intimidating.
Panicking, Thomas sprinted through the front door, shouting for his wife and daughter.
"We are in the kitchen, Thomas," Jade called out smoothly, sounding perfectly relaxed.
Thomas burst into the room and stopped dead in his tracks.
Sitting at their modest kitchen island was a man who Thomas instantly recognized from the cover of Forbes magazine.
Marcus Sterling, the billionaire industrialist who owned half the supply chains on the eastern seaboard, was casually sipping tea.
"Mr. Sterling?" Thomas gasped, utterly bewildered.
"Hello, Thomas," Marcus said, offering a curt but respectful nod.
"Dad, stop trying to intimidate my husband," Jade scolded gently as she poured more hot water into the teapot.
Thomas felt his knees go weak, and he had to grab the back of a chair to steady himself.
"Dad?" Thomas choked out, looking back and forth between his humble wife and the legendary tycoon.
"I am so sorry I never told you, Thomas," Jade said, walking over and taking his hand.
"I wanted to build a life based on love, not on my family's wealth, so I kept my identity a secret."
Thomas processed the information slowly, his mind racing through the past five years of their marriage.
"So when you invested your 'savings' into my startup..." Thomas started.
"That was my pocket money, yes," Jade admitted with a sheepish grin.
Marcus stood up, buttoning his bespoke suit jacket with a stern expression.
"Now that the truth is out, we have a pest problem to deal with regarding your mother, Thomas."
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Marcus placed a thick legal binder onto the counter, tapping it with a heavy gold ring.
"By tomorrow morning, Carol will not have a single penny to her name."
