Chapter 183
He had instead invested in other businesses and become somewhat satisfied with being a member of the board.
Melvin considered letting go of the past, but the past always seemed to have a way of resurfacing.
Serena was found and was brought into the company by Xavier Dorian.
When he heard of Victor’s imprisonment, Melvin prayed to God that he would not reach out to him, but unfortunately, he did. Through his lawyers and other contacts, Victor threatened him with the truth.
If Melvin refused to help orchestrate his escape, Victor would expose everything — their arrangement, the money, the plan. The truth about Serena’s kidnapping would surface.
And Melvin would fall with him.
So it happened.
It was Melvin who helped arrange the fire in Velmon’s prison.
It was Melvin who gave the Holts the money so Victor’s daughter could continue living a life of comfort.
The plan had been simple. Victor was supposed to stay dead.
The prison fire should have erased everything. Burned the evidence. Buried the past.
With Victor gone, the truth would disappear with him. Sterling would eventually stop searching for justice. Time would dull the wounds. And Melvin could move on, untouched.
But time had betrayed him.
Nathaniel Thorne began putting the pieces together, starting with Vanessa Holt. The past that was meant to remain ashes began to breathe again.
And once more, Victor resurfaced.
Through threats and messages delivered in the shadows, Victor cornered him. If Melvin refused to cooperate — refused to help him kidnap Serena again — he would confess everything to Sterling.
Their arrangement.
The money.
The original kidnapping.
It was a vicious cycle. One crime feeding another. One lie demanding more blood.
Melvin had once wished Victor had truly died in that prison fire.
But no.
Victor had survived… just to drag him back into the same abyss.
Over the past week, Melvin had been scrambling — revising plans, contacting old allies within the company, securing loyalties with quiet promises and hidden payments.
He knew the truth would eventually come out. And when it did, Sterling would destroy him.
So Melvin chose a different solution.
If he controlled the company, Sterling would hold no power. Neither would Silas. Nor Serena.
The kickbacks.
The stolen patent.
All of it had been orchestrated by Melvin and the people he had planted inside the office.
He had been slowly poisoning the company from within, tarnishing the reputation of Sterling’s children, painting them as careless and corrupt.
So that when the right moment
ет as the
came he could step forward as t “solution and snatch the throne before anyone realized he had been the disease all along.
Melvin and Jean had already driven into the driveway of Sterling’s home.
Their voices slowly hushed as the soldiers let them through.
“Melvin,” Jean said, “I’m just worried that Victor has already told on us p>
“He won’t,” Melvin said, shaking his head. “If he needs help, he will come back to us and ask for money p>
“Then,” Jean said, “if that happens, maybe we should take care of Victor ourselves.” Melvin patted his wife’s shoulder. “We will talk about this later. Right now, we need to talk to Sterling and his family p>
They stepped out of the car, and a maid guided them to the study.
Inside, the whole family was waiting- Sterling, Celine, Silas, Serena, and even Nathaniel Thorne.
Melvin tried to hide his displeasure. If it were not for this man, Serena’s kidnapping would have been successful, and maybe Victor would no longer bother him.
“We have news for you, Melvin, Jean,” Sterling said, motioning them to a vacant couch.
“So, what happened?” Melvin asked.
He tried his best to sound
concerned. “I’m still feeling guilty
about everything. I certainly hope we about the incident so
can learn mordare put behind
the people
bars p>
“We now know the truth, Uncle,” Silas said flatly.
The way the young man said it made Melvin’s heart race. Beads of sweat formed on
his forehead, but he tried to compose himself.
“It was Victor Kline who ordered Serena’s kidnapping. He was the mastermind,” Sterling said. “Apparently, he is still alive — or rather, was alive p>
Melvin gulped. “Was p>
“Victor Kline?” Jean reacted. Her face paled. “How-how is that possible p>
Melvin could feel his wife’s legs shaking in her seat. He had to put his hand over her knee to soothe her.
“The soldiers traced and captured Victor. He named his accomplices,” Silas revealed And after that.. he died. He fought with one of the soldiers and ended up sustaining a fatal injury p>
“You said he named his accomplices? Who are his accomplices?” Melvin asked.
“Victor said… it was Stella and Charles Montgomery,” Silas revealed.
Hearing the names, Melvin nearly fainted from relief.
Victor did not name him. Apparently, there was honor among them.