The Developer’s Ultimatum
Chapter 06 - The Developer’s Ultimatum
The development company was led by Grant Wallace, a polished businessman known for turning historic neighborhoods into luxury rentals.
Grant claimed he had purchased Hawthorne House in good faith.
He demanded that Emily honor Franklin’s contract or repay twelve million dollars in projected losses.
Emily had less than nine hundred dollars in her bank account.
The lawsuit arrived before her graduation gown returned from the cleaner.
Social media divided quickly.
Some praised Emily.
Others accused her of using history to seize a valuable property.
Franklin appeared on television and described his daughter as emotionally unstable.
He said grief over her mother had made her vulnerable to manipulation by Thomas.
Then he denied Thomas was alive.
“He is an impostor,” Franklin said.
Thomas agreed to submit DNA evidence and testify.
Before he could reach the state courthouse, his car was struck at an intersection.
He survived with a broken arm.
The other driver fled.
Emily believed Franklin arranged it.
Maya warned her not to make accusations without proof.
At the hospital, Thomas admitted he had one final secret.
Grant Wallace was not a stranger to the Cole family.
He was Franklin’s son.
Years before marrying Katherine, Franklin had a relationship with Grant’s mother. He provided money but refused to acknowledge the child.
Grant grew up knowing exactly who his father was.
The development deal was not simply business.
Franklin had promised Grant control of Hawthorne House as compensation for denying him a place in the family.
Emily felt sympathy for Grant.
Then she learned he had known about the burial ground.
His company had planned to excavate at night, remove remains, and report nothing.
Grant’s wound did not excuse what he intended to do.
Emily requested an emergency preservation order.
The judge granted seventy-two hours.
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Franklin had three days to destroy the evidence before the state arrived.
On the second night, smoke rose from the library windows.
