Chapter 4: The Estranged Brother**
Marcus’s salvage yard smelled of rusted iron, gasoline, and wet earth. It sat tucked beneath a roaring overpass on the edge of the shipping docks, entirely hidden from the manicured parks of the financial district.
When Marcus pushed open the metal door of the makeshift office, a grease-stained wrench hung loosely in his scarred hand. His eyes widened slightly at the sight of Julian and Lily standing amidst the scrap metal.
“Julian?” Marcus said, his gravelly voice thick with disbelief. “What kind of mess did you bring to my doorstep?”
Julian didn't hesitate. He stepped forward and placed his hand on his brother’s shoulder. “I need help, Marc. Evelyn put a hit out on me. She’s trying to take Lily and the company.”
Marcus stared at his younger brother for a long, silent moment. For seven years, they had barely spoken—alienated by Julian’s meteoric rise into high society and Marcus’s stubborn refusal to accept corporate handouts. But looking into Lily’s frightened eyes, Marcus’s tough exterior instantly shattered.
“Get inside,” Marcus grunted, stepping aside and locking the steel door behind them. “Both of you.”
Inside the cluttered office, Marcus handed Lily a warm cup of sweet tea and a box of crackers. He pulled Julian into the back storage room, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Evelyn was always calculating, Jules, but this? This is high treason,” Marcus said grimly. “What’s the play?”
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“The board meets tomorrow morning at ten for the quarterly audit,” Julian explained, his voice turning cold as steel. “If I don’t show up, Evelyn triggers the emergency succession clause, claiming I abandoned my post or disappeared. She takes control of every asset, including Lily’s legal custody. We have less than twenty hours to find the proof.”
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