Chapter 3 — The Empire Begins To Fall
Richard Mercer controlled half the city.
But Arthur knew something Richard didn’t.
Every empire had weaknesses.
You just needed to know where to look.
Within forty-eight hours…
Three things happened.
The police chief resigned.
Five financial accounts connected to Richard were frozen.
And six former employees came forward.
People who had been afraid for years.
People who finally realized Richard Mercer was no longer untouchable.
The media surrounded the Mercer mansion.
The same mansion where Richard once hosted politicians and celebrities.
Now cameras waited outside its gates.
Richard watched everything collapse from his lawyer’s office.
“How?”
His lawyer avoided eye contact.
“How did he do this?”
Nobody answered.
Because nobody knew.
Except one person.
Arthur.
Richard finally demanded a meeting.
The two men sat across from each other in a quiet room.
Richard looked exhausted.
Different.
Smaller.
“You ruined everything.”
Arthur stared at him.
“No.”
Richard frowned.
“You destroyed my company. My reputation. My family.”
Arthur leaned forward.
“You did that.”
Richard laughed bitterly.
“You think you’re better than me?”
Arthur looked at him.
“No.”
A pause.
May you like
“I think I’m the man who stopped becoming you.”
Richard went silent.
