{"id":30651,"date":"2026-10-05T15:22:24","date_gmt":"2026-10-05T15:22:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/?p=30651"},"modified":"2026-10-05T15:22:24","modified_gmt":"2026-10-05T15:22:24","slug":"part-25-annas-dead-man-archive-began-exposing-three-generations-of-hidden-crimes-while-cross-tried-to-escape-the-one-murder-he-could-no-longer-deny","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/?p=30651","title":{"rendered":"PART 25 \u2013 Anna\u2019s Dead-Man Archive Began Exposing Three Generations of Hidden Crimes While Cross Tried to Escape the One Murder He Could No Longer Deny"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The progress bar reached twelve percent before anyone in the boardroom understood what Anna had done.<\/p>\n<p>Marcus Whitmore leaned over the console, fingers moving across the keyboard.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThose destinations aren\u2019t random.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Richard stood beside him.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat are they?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFederal regulators. State prosecutors. Two investigative newsrooms. An encrypted legal repository.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Daniel watched the number climb.<\/p>\n<p>Fourteen percent.<\/p>\n<p>Nathan remained motionless.<\/p>\n<p>Cross, held between two officers, had stopped smiling.<\/p>\n<p>Edward stared at the authorization line.<\/p>\n<p>A.M.<\/p>\n<p>Three years after her death, Anna had turned their elaborate machinery against itself.<\/p>\n<p>Daniel asked, \u201cCan anyone stop it?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marcus hesitated.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nathan immediately said, \u201cDo it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Daniel did not look at him.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI wasn\u2019t asking you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marcus studied the screen.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTheoretically, I could interrupt transmission.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWould that destroy the files?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThen don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nathan stepped forward until an officer blocked him.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou have no idea what\u2019s in that archive.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Daniel finally turned.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat seems to be a recurring problem around here.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere are names unrelated to this.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThen investigators can separate them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou think governments handle information responsibly?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think your family has demonstrated the alternative.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nathan\u2019s face tightened.<\/p>\n<p>Cross laughed quietly.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou\u2019re enjoying this.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Daniel looked at him.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cross\u2019s smile faded.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s the difference between us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The upload reached eighteen percent.<\/p>\n<p>A second monitor populated with filenames.<\/p>\n<p>HAWTHORNE.<\/p>\n<p>HARTWELL.<\/p>\n<p>CONTINUITY.<\/p>\n<p>MERIDIAN.<\/p>\n<p>EASTBRIDGE.<\/p>\n<p>Then individual names.<\/p>\n<p>Daniel saw his grandfather\u2019s.<\/p>\n<p>Edward\u2019s.<\/p>\n<p>Nathan\u2019s.<\/p>\n<p>Rebecca\u2019s.<\/p>\n<p>Thomas\u2019s.<\/p>\n<p>Eleanor\u2019s.<\/p>\n<p>Gregory\u2019s.<\/p>\n<p>Marcus Whitmore\u2019s.<\/p>\n<p>Richard\u2019s.<\/p>\n<p>And Anna\u2019s own.<\/p>\n<p>Daniel frowned.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe included herself.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Richard nodded slowly.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe wasn\u2019t protecting her reputation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Edward looked at the screen.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe never cared much about that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Daniel heard pride in his father\u2019s voice and resented how much he shared it.<\/p>\n<p>Cross shifted against the officer holding him.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat happens when the archive shows Anna committed crimes too?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Daniel looked at him.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThen the truth includes that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cross studied him.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou really mean it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat makes you dangerous.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Daniel looked toward Nathan.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt makes me inconvenient to people who built their lives around everyone else having something to hide.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nathan\u2019s expression hardened.<\/p>\n<p>The boardroom door opened.<\/p>\n<p>A detective entered.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have federal agents downstairs.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Richard glanced at the screen.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat was fast.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cApparently they received a priority evidence package six minutes ago.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Anna had not merely released documents.<\/p>\n<p>She had written instructions.<\/p>\n<p>Daniel almost smiled.<\/p>\n<p>Of course she had.<\/p>\n<p>The detective approached Cross.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cJulian Cross, you are being detained in connection with the death of Anna Mercer, unlawful imprisonment of Claire Carter, conspiracy, and multiple financial offenses.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cross stared at Daniel rather than the detective.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou think this is finished.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Daniel said nothing.<\/p>\n<p>Cross continued.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou still haven\u2019t asked why Anna waited three years to release the archive.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Daniel frowned.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe didn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe designed the trigger three years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut it activated today.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBecause Meridian dissolved.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cross smiled.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cExactly.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Daniel understood the distinction.<\/p>\n<p>Anna had not arranged disclosure merely upon her death.<\/p>\n<p>She had tied it to destruction of Meridian.<\/p>\n<p>Meaning she expected someone\u2014eventually\u2014to make the same choice Daniel had just made.<\/p>\n<p>Cross continued.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe knew Edward wouldn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Edward looked away.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe knew Nathan wouldn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nathan\u2019s jaw tightened.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe knew Rebecca wouldn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Daniel stared.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo she expected me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cross\u2019s smile became thin.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe hoped for you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Daniel looked at the progress bar.<\/p>\n<p>Twenty-four percent.<\/p>\n<p>Richard\u2019s phone began ringing.<\/p>\n<p>Then Daniel\u2019s.<\/p>\n<p>Then Marcus Whitmore\u2019s.<\/p>\n<p>The outside world had noticed.<\/p>\n<p>Daniel ignored his phone.<\/p>\n<p>Cross said, \u201cAsk what happens at one hundred percent.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marcus Whitmore stopped typing.<\/p>\n<p>Daniel looked at him.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marcus\u2019s face changed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s another execution layer.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nathan moved toward the console.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cStop it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Police blocked him again.<\/p>\n<p>Daniel asked, \u201cWhat layer?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marcus opened the code.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnna built staged releases.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMeaning?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFirst documents. Then access credentials.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Richard stiffened.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTo what?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marcus scrolled.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAccounts.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nathan\u2019s face drained.<\/p>\n<p>Daniel noticed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhose accounts?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marcus stared.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHartwell reserves.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nathan said, \u201cDaniel, shut it down.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBecause those reserves support legitimate businesses.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHow much?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marcus swallowed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPotentially three-point-two billion.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Daniel stared.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhere does it go?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marcus studied the code.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNot anywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt freezes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Richard understood.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEscrow.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marcus nodded.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAt one hundred percent, designated accounts become inaccessible pending judicial review.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Daniel looked at Nathan.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou were planning to move that money.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nathan did not answer.<\/p>\n<p>Cross laughed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe was planning to steal it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nathan turned.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou would have done the same.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cross smiled.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI was going to.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Father and son looked at each other.<\/p>\n<p>Whatever loyalty remained between them was collapsing publicly.<\/p>\n<p>Daniel asked Marcus, \u201cCan the freeze harm Bellmont employees?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNot directly. These are network reserves.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPensions?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSeparate.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPayroll?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSeparate.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThen let it run.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nathan slammed his palm against the table.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThose funds belong to hundreds of entities.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThen courts can determine ownership.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou naive fool.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Daniel stepped closer.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou keep saying that like it\u2019s an argument.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nathan stared.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou think law is cleaner than power?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Daniel\u2019s voice stayed calm.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think law can be challenged in daylight.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nathan had no answer.<\/p>\n<p>The upload reached thirty-one percent.<\/p>\n<p>Edward approached Daniel.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnna would have known this could collapse companies.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe did it anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Daniel looked at him.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMaybe because she understood preserving the structure was the excuse everyone used to keep it alive.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Edward absorbed that.<\/p>\n<p>Daniel continued.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou did.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNathan did.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRebecca did.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Edward nodded.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd eventually Anna decided destruction was cheaper than maintenance.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Edward looked at the screen.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe always was better at knowing when something couldn\u2019t be repaired.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Daniel felt the sentence unexpectedly.<\/p>\n<p>Their marriage had not been perfect.<\/p>\n<p>Anna had never romanticized damage.<\/p>\n<p>She repaired what could be repaired.<\/p>\n<p>She discarded what could not.<\/p>\n<p>Maybe that was why she had seen Bellmont\u2019s hidden architecture more clearly than any Mercer.<\/p>\n<p>The detective returned.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCross\u2019s transport is ready.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cross resisted when officers moved him.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDaniel.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Daniel looked over.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou need me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou still don\u2019t know where Rebecca is.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNeither do you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cross smiled.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI know where she\u2019ll go.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nathan looked sharply at him.<\/p>\n<p>Daniel caught it.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cross said nothing.<\/p>\n<p>Daniel walked closer.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou wanted recognition ten minutes ago. Here it is.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cross\u2019s eyes narrowed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou killed Anna.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Silence.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou upgraded a deterrent into a fatal operation. You entered my garage. You altered the brake line. You documented it because you thought the system would protect you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cross\u2019s face tightened.<\/p>\n<p>Daniel continued.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNathan may have authorized the operation. Rebecca may have created the conditions. Edward may have made everything worse. Renner may have started the sabotage.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He stepped closer.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut you made the decision that killed her.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cross stared.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd now the whole world gets to know your name.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Something broke in Cross\u2019s expression.<\/p>\n<p>Daniel saw it.<\/p>\n<p>Not remorse.<\/p>\n<p>Ego.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou want Rebecca before she tells everyone you were only Nathan\u2019s instrument.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cross\u2019s nostrils flared.<\/p>\n<p>Nathan said, \u201cJulian, shut up.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Daniel looked at Cross.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cross turned toward his father.<\/p>\n<p>Nathan\u2019s face was hard.<\/p>\n<p>Cross smiled.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSee?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Daniel waited.<\/p>\n<p>Cross finally said:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBellmont House.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Daniel frowned.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe restaurant?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cross laughed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBecause Rebecca likes circles.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nathan swore.<\/p>\n<p>Daniel\u2019s pulse quickened.<\/p>\n<p>The place where this had begun.<\/p>\n<p>Booth seventeen.<\/p>\n<p>Vanessa.<\/p>\n<p>The first visible symptom of a hidden system.<\/p>\n<p>Daniel asked, \u201cWhat\u2019s there?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cross looked toward the windows.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe original Hartwell ledger.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Edward stared.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nathan closed his eyes.<\/p>\n<p>Daniel turned.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat ledger?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Edward answered.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe founder book.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPaper?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhy does it matter now?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nathan said reluctantly:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBecause digital ownership can be challenged.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Richard understood.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut an original signed agreement could establish beneficial claims.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cExactly.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Daniel looked at Cross.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRebecca wants it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe always has.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhere is it?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cross smiled.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUnder the restaurant.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Daniel stared.<\/p>\n<p>Bellmont House had been built on one of the family\u2019s earliest properties.<\/p>\n<p>Edward said, \u201cThere was an old wine vault.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nathan nodded.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFather used it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Daniel looked toward the city.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRebecca chose Bellmont House because the ledger is there.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cross laughed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Daniel turned.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe chose Bellmont House because Anna hid something with it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Daniel felt cold.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cross\u2019s smile returned.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSomething she never put in the archive.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nathan shouted, \u201cEnough.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cross ignored him.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnna found the ledger before she died.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Daniel stared.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe added a page.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat page?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cross looked directly at him.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHer own.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Police pulled him toward the door.<\/p>\n<p>Daniel stepped after him.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat did she write?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cross called back:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI never saw it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The doors closed.<\/p>\n<p>Daniel turned to Edward.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDid Anna ever go beneath Bellmont House?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Edward thought.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTwo weeks before she died.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Daniel\u2019s phone rang.<\/p>\n<p>Unknown number.<\/p>\n<p>He answered.<\/p>\n<p>Rebecca.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou dissolved it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Daniel looked at the transmission progress.<\/p>\n<p>Forty-three percent.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>For several seconds she said nothing.<\/p>\n<p>Then:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnna believed you would.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou knew about her trigger.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI knew she built one.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDid you know what it released?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSome.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhere are you?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Rebecca ignored him.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNathan told you about the ledger.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCross did.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Silence.<\/p>\n<p>Daniel could almost hear her irritation.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou shouldn\u2019t trust Julian.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGood.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAre you at Bellmont House?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Rebecca paused.<\/p>\n<p>Then laughed softly.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou finally ask the right question before I answer it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Daniel looked at Marcus Reed.<\/p>\n<p>He was already signaling officers.<\/p>\n<p>Rebecca continued.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCome alone.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou\u2019ve become repetitive.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo have kidnappers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have nobody to threaten.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThen you have no reason to care who I bring.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Rebecca went silent.<\/p>\n<p>Daniel knew he had caught something.<\/p>\n<p>She did care.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWho is with you?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo one.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThen I\u2019ll bring police.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDaniel.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnna\u2019s page is addressed to you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>His grip tightened around the phone.<\/p>\n<p>Rebecca continued.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have not opened it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBecause despite everything you think of me, some boundaries still matter.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Daniel looked at Edward.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLeave it there.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI intend to.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThen leave the restaurant.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBecause Nathan is coming.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Daniel turned.<\/p>\n<p>Nathan was no longer in the boardroom.<\/p>\n<p>His chair stood empty.<\/p>\n<p>Daniel stared at the door.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen did he leave?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marcus Reed swore and ran.<\/p>\n<p>Rebecca said:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou see the problem.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Daniel disconnected.<\/p>\n<p>The upload reached forty-eight percent.<\/p>\n<p>Daniel looked at Richard.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cStay with the release.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Then at Marcus Whitmore.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf anything tries to interrupt it\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Edward stepped forward.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m coming.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Daniel stared at him.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRebecca is my sister.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNathan is your brother.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd this is exactly how we got here.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Edward stopped.<\/p>\n<p>Daniel continued.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEvery Mercer keeps deciding family gives them jurisdiction.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Edward looked wounded.<\/p>\n<p>Daniel did not soften it.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cStay.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Then Daniel followed Marcus Reed toward the elevator.<\/p>\n<p>Bellmont House was twelve minutes away.<\/p>\n<p>For the first time since booth seventeen, Daniel knew exactly where the next confrontation would happen.<\/p>\n<p>He just did not know which surviving Mercer would reach the basement first.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<h2><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/?p=30652\">Click here to continue reading: PART 26: Beneath Bellmont House, Anna\u2019s Hidden Page Forced Rebecca and Nathan to Confront the Sister They Had Both Turned Into an Enemy<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The progress bar reached twelve percent before anyone in the boardroom understood what Anna had done. Marcus Whitmore leaned over the console, fingers moving across the keyboard. \u201cThose destinations aren\u2019t &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":30626,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-30651","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-insightdrama"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30651","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=30651"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30651\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30686,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30651\/revisions\/30686"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/30626"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=30651"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=30651"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=30651"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}