Chapter 6 - Evelyn Mercer
Evelyn was born Evelyn Mercer.
At eighteen, she legally changed her surname to Hart—her mother's maiden name.
Hadrian had never known.
Mercer was a powerful name.
Real estate.
Private equity.
Hotels.
A family fortune estimated in the hundreds of millions.
Hadrian knew the Mercers professionally.
Everyone did.
But he'd never connected Evelyn to them.
Why hide it?
Because Evelyn's father was Conrad Mercer.
Founder of Northwood Ridge.
Hadrian stared at the restraints.
Evelyn had not simply been a teenager sent to the program.
Her own father owned it.
That explained why Clara felt betrayed.
Evelyn's escape triggered an investigation that threatened Conrad's business.
Conrad blamed Clara.
Clara's family was pressured into silence.
Years later, Evelyn discovered the program had retained confidential family files.
Conrad denied knowing.
Evelyn didn't believe him.
Then Hadrian asked:
“Is Conrad alive?”
Tessa nodded.
Seventy-nine.
Living in Palm Beach.
Hadrian flew there.
Conrad Mercer greeted him beside a swimming pool as though they were discussing business.
“You have Evelyn's eyes when you're angry.”
Hadrian almost left.
Instead:
“Why didn't she tell me you were her father?”
“Because she hated me.”
“Why?”
Conrad smiled sadly.
“How much time do you have?”
Hadrian didn't smile.
Conrad admitted Northwood had been harsh.
Too harsh.
He claimed he believed in “structured intervention.”
Hadrian interrupted.
“My daughter spent one dinner chained to a chair. Don't use pretty words with me.”
Conrad became quiet.
Good.
Then Hadrian asked about the secret files.
Conrad denied blackmail.
But acknowledged someone stole archived intake records when Northwood closed.
Who?
He suspected Gideon Shaw.
Hadrian frowned.
Gideon had presented himself as helping Evelyn.
Conrad laughed.
“Gideon?”
Then:
“Gideon was the reason Evelyn ran.”
Hadrian's stomach tightened.
“What did he do?”
“Not what you're thinking.”
Conrad explained.
Gideon discovered staff were using unauthorized restraints and falsifying reports.
He secretly told Evelyn where emergency phones were located.
He wanted her to escape and expose the program.
So Gideon had actually helped.
Then why suspect him of stealing files?
Because after Northwood closed, Gideon became obsessed with documenting wealthy families who had buried complaints.
Conrad believed he copied everything.
Hadrian called Tessa.
“Don't trust Gideon.”
Silence.
Then Tessa whispered:
“Hadrian…”
“What?”
“He's here.”
“Where?”
“Your house.”
Hadrian stood.
“Get Sorrel out.”
Tessa's next words stopped him.
“He didn't come for Sorrel.”
May you like
“Then why?”
“He brought Clara.”
