Love Denied Ch 13

Chapter 13
Unraveling the Truth
The weight of the file in Elena’s hands felt heavier with
every passing moment. She sat in her car, parked just outside
her childhood home, her mind racing with a thousand
thoughts. The contract she had uncovered—signed by her
mother and Ryan Lancaster—was the key to understanding
everything.
Ryan had been plotting long before Elena had ever realized
the true scope of his plans. She had always known him to be
calculating, but this… this was a different level of
manipulation.
She glanced at the paper one more time, reading the terms
over and over as if she might find something she missed. The
document had been signed years ago, well before her
mother’s death, and the words were chilling. The clause
about relinquishing control over the Carter family’s assets
was the final piece of the puzzle.
Elena had to know more. She had to find out how deep this
rabbit hole went. And there was only one person who might
have the answers: her late mother’s lawyer.
The Encounter
Elena had called the lawyer the night before, and he agreed
to meet her at his office the next morning. The moment she
stepped into his office, the familiar smell of old leather and
expensive cologne enveloped her. The walls were lined with
bookshelves, and the polished mahogany desk in the center
of the room reflected the dim light from the chandelier
above.
“Ms. Carter,” the lawyer, Charles Grant, greeted her, his
voice low but steady. “I wasn’t expecting this to be the
reason for your visit.”
“Neither was I,” Elena replied, her voice firm. She placed the
file on the desk, pushing it toward him. “I need you to
explain this.”
Grant glanced at the contract, his brow furrowing as he
skimmed through the pages. When he finally looked back at
Elena, his expression was unreadable.
“Where did you find this?” he asked, his tone guarded.
“In the attic of my mother’s house,” Elena said. “It looks like
she and Ryan Lancaster had an agreement. An agreement
that I had no idea about. You were her lawyer, Charles. Why
didn’t you tell me?”
Grant leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepling in front
of him. “Ms. Carter, your mother had reasons for keeping
certain things from you. But you’re right. I should have told
you. That contract, however, was signed in a time when
things between your family and the Lancasters were much
different.”
Elena’s jaw tightened. “What do you mean?”
“Your family was struggling,” Grant said carefully. “The
business was in jeopardy, and Ryan’s father offered a
partnership—one that was contingent upon your family
relinquishing control over certain assets. Your mother
agreed, believing it would save your family from financial
ruin. But there were… contingencies. And that’s where
things get complicated.”
Elena could feel the walls closing in. She had always been
told that the Carter family had been successful because of
hard work and dedication, but now she was discovering a
dark secret.
“I don’t understand,” she said, her voice tight with
frustration. “Why didn’t you stop it? Why didn’t you warn
her that this would lead to something worse?”
Grant’s eyes softened, but there was no comfort in his gaze.
“At the time, your mother believed it was the only way to
save everything. She trusted Ryan’s father, and later Ryan,
to honor the deal. But Ryan has always had his own agenda.
He doesn’t care about family loyalty. He only cares about
power.”
Elena’s hands clenched into fists. “He’s been using me,
using my mother, using all of us to get what he wants.”
“Yes,” Grant confirmed. “And now, I’m afraid that you’re
caught in the middle of a much larger scheme.”
A New Game Plan
Elena stormed out of the lawyer’s office, her mind a
whirlwind of anger and disbelief. Ryan’s manipulation ran
deeper than she had ever imagined, and she could feel the
pressure mounting. But there was no turning back now.
She had to act—and quickly.
Her first step was clear. She needed to confront Ryan headon. The contract she held in her hands was the key to
breaking his hold over her family’s legacy, but she had to
find a way to force him to back down.
She immediately called Daniel.
“Elena,” he answered after the second ring, his voice tense.
“Is everything okay?”
“I need to talk to Ryan,” Elena said, her tone sharp. “Now.”
Daniel paused, sensing the seriousness in her voice. “Are
you sure that’s the best move? He’s already cornered you
financially, and I’m not sure you want to escalate things
further.”
“I don’t have a choice,” Elena replied. “He’s been playing
this game for too long, and I’m done being his victim. I’ve
got something he doesn’t expect. I’m going to use it against
him.”
Confrontation
Later that afternoon, Elena found herself standing outside
the sleek, glass tower that housed Ryan’s empire. The
building loomed above her, a symbol of the man who had
been slowly destroying everything she cared about.
She didn’t know what would happen next. But one thing was
certain—she was ready to face him.
As she entered the building, she was met by his assistant,
who ushered her into his office without hesitation. The
moment she stepped inside, Ryan’s cold eyes locked onto
hers.
“Elena,” he said, a smirk playing on his lips. “I’ve been
expecting you.”
She didn’t sit. Instead, she stood tall, her gaze unwavering.
“I’ve got something you need to see.”
She placed the contract on his desk, sliding it toward him.
Ryan raised an eyebrow as he glanced at it, but there was no
sign of surprise. Instead, his smirk deepened. “I see you’ve
found it.”
Elena’s heart pounded in her chest. “This ends now, Ryan.
You’ve manipulated my family for the last time. This
contract gives me the leverage I need to expose everything
you’ve done.”
Ryan leaned back in his chair, his fingers drumming lightly
on the desk. “You think this will stop me, Elena? You’re a
fool if you think I’m afraid of your threats. I’ve been playing
this game much longer than you realize.”
Elena’s voice was low but firm. “I’m done playing by your
rules. You’re not going to win this time.”
Ryan’s eyes narrowed, and for the first time, Elena saw a
flicker of something other than arrogance in them—fear.