CHAPTER 2: THE FATHER NOBODY EXPECTED
The Rolls-Royce stopped beneath the lights.
The driver stepped out and opened the rear door.
An older man emerged.
Silver hair.
Dark overcoat.
Sharp eyes.
The kind of presence that made powerful people nervous.
The moment he entered the garage, the room grew quiet.
His eyes immediately found Daniel.
Then they dropped to the bruise on his neck.
The old man's face darkened.
“Who did this to you?”
Daniel hesitated.
He hated conflict.
Always had.
But after a long pause, he slowly raised his hand.
And pointed.
Directly at Victor.
The room froze.
The old man turned.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
His gaze locked onto Victor.
“You hit my son?”
The words exploded through the garage.
Clara gasped.
Several mechanics nearly dropped their tools.
Victor blinked.
For the first time all afternoon, uncertainty appeared on his face.
“Your son?”
The old man stepped closer.
“Yes.”
Victor forced a nervous laugh.
“This has to be some misunderstanding.”
But nobody was laughing.
Especially Daniel.
Because he knew exactly who this man was.
Jonathan Mercer.
Founder of Mercer Global Holdings.
One of the largest industrial empires in the country.
A billionaire known for acquiring companies larger than Victor’s entire business portfolio.
The mechanics exchanged stunned looks.
Victor’s smile faded.
Because he finally understood.
The young mechanic he mocked wasn't poor.
The mechanic wasn't desperate.
And he certainly wasn't powerless.
The man he had humiliated was heir to a fortune larger than his own.
But the worst part wasn't the money.
The worst part was realizing Daniel had never told anyone.
He had chosen to work in the garage because he loved the job.
Not because he needed it.
Jonathan stopped directly in front of Victor.
And what he said next made Victor’s blood run cold.
“You just made the biggest mistake of your life.”