Chapter 7: The Crown’s Final Bargain

The mayor’s actions shocked the community. Some council members tried to advise him to reconsider.

They were quickly reassigned, sent to distant counties where they could do no harm.

They were transferred to remote counties as a result.

It was as good as banishment. Their careers—and their lives—were over.

Now, no one dared to say another word.

A heavy silence fell over city hall. Everyone watched their backs.

But everyone knew in their hearts that with such a leader, Silver Hollow was doomed.

You could feel it in the air—the hope draining away, replaced by fear and suspicion.

I knew someone must have framed Harrison and the mayor’s wife.

It was too neat, too convenient. Someone wanted them out of the way.

Whoever benefited from their downfall was most likely behind it all.

I started making a list, writing down names, motives, connections. The answer was there—I just had to find it.

There were many women in the mayor’s circle, but he had few children.

He kept his family close, but his trust was easily broken. Only a handful remained.

There were only three sons and a couple of daughters.

Harrison was the eldest, always the favorite—until now.

Now that Harrison was out, only the second and third sons remained.

The second son had been wounded in a border skirmish and lost his left hand, making him unfit for office.

He spent his days in the library, reading old war stories, his future stolen by a single bullet.

So only the third son was left.

The youngest, Daniel, was quiet and kept to himself. People underestimated him, but I never did.

The third son, Daniel, was Caroline’s full brother.

They shared the same sharp eyes, the same stubborn chin. But where Caroline was open, Daniel was guarded.

Originally, the mayor didn’t like Caroline or Daniel.

He saw them as reminders of a failed marriage, of a time he’d rather forget.

But two years ago, when the mayor was at his summer home, attackers appeared. At a critical moment, Daniel took a bullet for the mayor, saving his life, and the mayor began to pay attention to him.

It changed everything. Overnight, Daniel went from invisible to indispensable.

The third son Daniel was different from Harrison. He grew up in the shadows, witnessing the indifference of the world.

He learned to keep secrets, to watch and wait. He was patient, never showing his hand until the last possible moment.

As a result, he was slick and shrewd, deep and calculating—not as simple as he appeared.

People called him a snake, but I knew better—he was a survivor.

Last year, Daniel somehow brought in a famous spiritualist, claiming he could make the mayor live forever.

It was a bold move, and it paid off. The mayor clung to every word, desperate for hope.

The mayor was overjoyed and favored Daniel even more.

He showered him with gifts, gave him more power than ever before.

Caroline and Daniel didn’t get along. When others bullied Caroline, he never stepped in.

He watched from the sidelines, never lifting a finger to help. Caroline never forgave him for that.

Caroline often complained to Lila and me that Daniel was unworthy as a brother.

She’d rant for hours, listing his faults. Lila always listened, but I could tell it hurt her.

The mayor even entrusted the city’s security to Daniel, showing his trust in him.

It was a dangerous responsibility, and Daniel took to it like a fish to water.

The mayor trusted Daniel, but I never expected he would turn against Harrison for him.

It was a betrayal I hadn’t seen coming. The family was tearing itself apart.

I couldn’t understand what secrets lay behind all this.

There were too many layers, too many lies. I was determined to get to the bottom of it.

Other than attending council meetings, I couldn’t move freely in city hall.

Guards watched every entrance, and the walls seemed to have ears. I had to be careful.

At this time, Caroline came to me, saying she was worried about Lila and me.

She looked tired, her eyes rimmed with red. She said she missed the old days, when things were simpler.

I took the opportunity to ask her about the mayor’s thoughts and the situation in city hall. She said she was just an unfavored daughter and didn’t know her father’s mind.

She shrugged, playing the part of the helpless daughter. But I saw something in her eyes—a flicker of calculation.

She also said everything at city hall was normal, nothing unusual.

It was a lie, and we both knew it. The tension in her voice gave her away.

That’s when I realized Caroline had already joined forces with Daniel.

It hit me like a cold wave. The game had changed, and I was already a step behind.

I once saved a young janitor named Billy.

He was just a kid back then, scrawny and scared. I pulled him out of the lake, and he never forgot it.

Years ago, he was bullied by some rich kids, who nearly drowned him in the lake.

It was a cruel prank, but it nearly cost him his life. I made sure those kids never bothered him again.

I rescued him and always looked out for him. He was clever and had now become the chief attendant.

He rose through the ranks quickly, earning everyone’s trust. He kept his ear to the ground and always knew what was going on.

One night, he snuck out of city hall to tell me there was a beauty from out west by the mayor’s side.

He whispered it in the alley behind my house, his voice barely above a whisper. "She’s not like the others," he said. "She’s got the mayor wrapped around her finger."

She was a gift from Daniel to the mayor at his birthday party.

The timing was suspicious. I made a note to look into it further.

The mayor’s birthday party was right before Harrison and I left for disaster relief, wasn’t it?

It all started to make sense. The pieces were falling into place.

All of this must be connected to the beauty from out west.

I wondered what hold she had over the mayor—and over Daniel.

At this time, the mayor issued another directive: Lila was to leave for Canada in a month for the marriage alliance.

It was a death sentence. We were running out of time.

It was a bolt from the blue.

I felt the ground shift beneath me. Everything I’d hoped for was slipping away.

Originally, it was scheduled for the start of next year, so I would have had time to make plans.

Now, I barely had weeks. Panic set in.

But now, with only a month left, what could I do?

I racked my brain for a solution, but nothing seemed possible.

Lila shut herself in her room, refusing to see me, only sobbing and apologizing.

She blamed herself, but I knew she was just scared. I stood outside her door, begging her to let me in.

I waited outside Lila’s door for two days, hoping just to see her once. I didn’t eat or drink for those two days, and finally fainted on the porch.

The world spun, and then everything went black. When I woke up, Lila was there, her face streaked with tears.

When I woke up, I saw Lila’s swollen, tear-stained eyes.

She reached for my hand, her grip weak but determined. "I’m so sorry," she whispered, over and over.

I held Lila, not caring about anything else, just wanting to take her away.

I almost did it—almost threw caution to the wind and ran with her. But she stopped me.

But Lila pushed me away.

She shook her head, tears streaming down her cheeks. "If I go, they’ll kill my father," she choked out.

The mayor had promised that as long as Lila went for the marriage alliance, he would spare General Caldwell.

It was blackmail, pure and simple. We were trapped.

There was nothing I could do, and neither could Lila.

We sat in silence, holding hands until the sun came up. It was the only comfort we had left.

I went home in despair.

The house felt empty, colder than I remembered. I paced the halls, unable to sleep.

My father only sighed and patted my shoulder.

He didn’t have the words, but his touch said enough. We were both powerless.

I understood that none of us could defy the mayor’s order.

Silver Hollow had become a place where loyalty meant nothing, and power ruled all.

If we angered the mayor, our whole family would be ruined.

It was a threat that hung over all of us. No one was safe.

I couldn’t understand why, after three exhausting months of disaster relief for the town, I couldn’t even protect the one I loved upon my return.

I’d given everything for this city, and it had taken everything from me in return. It wasn’t fair.

Why was it so unfair?

I asked myself that question every night, but no answer ever came.

Why had everything changed?

It felt like the world had turned upside down while I was gone. Nothing made sense anymore.

These events were all too coincidental, as if someone had planned them in advance.

I started to suspect there was a hand behind it all, pulling the strings. But whose?

Now, everything had to be handled carefully.

One wrong move and we’d lose everything. I had to be smart.

I knew something big was about to happen at city hall.

The tension was palpable, like the air before a thunderstorm. Everyone was on edge.

These days, my father had visibly aged.

His hair was grayer, his shoulders stooped. I worried about him constantly.

I didn’t want my parents to get caught up in any danger.

They’d already sacrificed so much. I owed it to them to keep them safe.

So I decided to send them away.

I told everyone I was sending my parents to Portland.

It was a believable story—my grandparents lived there, and we had family friends who could help.

Both my grandfather’s and maternal grandfather’s families were in Portland, and our family had a house there.

I made sure the story got around, dropping hints at the market and in church. People believed it.

Everyone believed this without question.

Even the mayor’s spies accepted it as fact. I breathed a little easier.

Even the mayor knew about it.

He sent a token gift—a chest of cash and some old jewelry. It was meant as a gesture, but I saw the calculation behind it.

He even specially gifted my father several chests of cash and jewelry.

I accepted them with a smile, but I had no intention of keeping them.

I exchanged all the valuables for bank notes, and the chests only held clothes and books.

It was a small act of rebellion, but it made me feel better.

Those traveling with my parents were our most trusted friends.

They’d been with us for years, loyal to a fault. I knew they’d protect my parents with their lives.

They were loyal to my parents, so I felt at ease.

I slept a little better, knowing they were in good hands.

I also found some trustworthy old servants, dressed them up as my parents, and sent them to Portland.

It was a clever trick, one that would buy us time if anyone was watching.

Once in Portland, they were to live quietly and wait for my news.

They promised to keep their heads down, to blend in as best they could.

Meanwhile, I sent my real parents to the Midwest.

It was farther, but safer. No one would think to look for them there.

A month later, my private investigators reported that, sure enough, some disguised guards followed them to Portland and only left after seeing my family enter the house.

It was confirmation that we were being watched. I was glad I’d thought ahead.

I think they must have been sent by Daniel.

He was the only one paranoid enough to send men after us.

Just as suspicious by nature as the mayor.

They were two of a kind, always looking for threats in every shadow.

Meanwhile, with Billy’s help, I investigated the background of the beauty from out west and found some clues.

Billy was resourceful, slipping into places no one else could. He brought me reports, names, even a few photographs.

She stayed in the guest house every day and never came out.

It was odd—most guests mingled, but she kept to herself. Billy said she was always surrounded by guards.

The mayor spent all his time there, except when attending council meetings.

He’d become a recluse, rarely seen in public. People whispered about what went on behind those closed doors.

Now, all the paperwork was being reviewed by Daniel.

He was consolidating power, making sure nothing slipped through the cracks.

As I suspected, the beauty from out west did indeed resemble Daniel.

The resemblance was uncanny—same eyes, same sharp cheekbones. It couldn’t be a coincidence.

I had Billy take me to the archives, where the detailed backgrounds of all the mayor’s acquaintances were recorded.

It was a dusty room in the basement, filled with old files and forgotten secrets. Billy picked the lock, and we slipped inside.

Sure enough, I was right: Caroline and Daniel’s mother, Linda Yu, was originally a beauty sent as a diplomatic gift from out west.

Her file was thin, but the story was clear—she’d been traded like property, never truly accepted.

Linda Yu was not favored because she was unwilling to come to Silver Hollow and repeatedly rejected the mayor, angering him and losing his favor.

She’d paid the price for her defiance, living in the shadows until the day she died.

Now, the beauty in the guest house must have made some agreement with Daniel.

It was the only explanation that made sense. Daniel was pulling strings, and the mayor was dancing to his tune.

Billy said the mayor was completely under the control of the beauty from out west.

He’d seen things—whispers in the night, secret meetings. The mayor was a puppet, and someone else was holding the strings.

He had secretly seen the mayor kneeling to her.

It was unthinkable—a man like him, brought low by a woman he barely knew. But Billy swore it was true.

Unbelievable!

I shook my head, trying to make sense of it all. The world had truly turned upside down.

A city leader, kneeling to a woman from another country!

It would be a scandal if anyone found out. But no one dared speak of it.

Recently, Daniel often met with the mayor, making him laugh every time.

They were thick as thieves, always whispering in corners. I watched them closely, trying to catch a slip.

The next day, just after breakfast, Caroline came.

She looked exhausted, her hair unkempt. She barely glanced at me as she sat down at the kitchen table.

She looked worried and said she’d heard Lila would be leaving for Canada in a few days for the marriage alliance.

Her voice trembled as she spoke, her hands twisting in her lap.

She cried, saying she’d failed to protect Lila.

Tears streamed down her cheeks, but she didn’t bother to wipe them away. She looked lost, like a child who’d lost her way.

She said she’d begged the mayor that morning, saying she’d rather go herself for the alliance.

She’d thrown herself at his feet, pleading for mercy. But he’d turned his back on her.

But the mayor ignored her plea.

He was unmoved, his face cold and unfeeling. It was like she didn’t exist.

He disregarded their father-daughter bond and even slapped her.

The sound echoed down the hall, a sharp reminder of who held the power. Caroline flinched as she told me, her cheek still red.

The slap mark was still on her face, her cheek swollen.

I reached out to touch it, but she pulled away, embarrassed.

I patiently exchanged a few words with her.

We talked in circles, neither of us saying what we really meant. The silence between us grew heavier with each passing minute.

At this time, Harrison also received the mayor’s order and set out for Alaska.

He left quietly, not wanting to draw attention. I watched him go, my heart heavy.

I gave the officers escorting Harrison a lot of money, hoping they would take good care of him.

It was all I could do—buy a little kindness, a little safety.

Harrison seemed to suddenly realize something, and before leaving, he bowed to me.

He looked me in the eye, regret etched into every line of his face. "I’m sorry," he whispered.

I hurried to stop him.

I grabbed his arm, shaking my head. "You don’t owe me anything," I said. "We’re brothers."

“Ethan, only now do I understand the effort you and your father spent reminding me every day. I have let you down. Please convey my apologies to your father.”

His words stung, but I knew he meant them. I promised I would.

I sent a trusted friend to accompany Harrison, to protect him along the way.

It was a small comfort, but it made me feel better. I prayed they’d make it safely.

What fault did Harrison have?

He was innocent—a casualty of someone else’s ambition.

He simply didn’t harbor ill intentions and was too pure of heart.

That was his only crime, and it broke my heart.

City hall had changed, and so had the council.

The old guard was gone, replaced by men loyal only to themselves.

The council members all advised the mayor to appoint a new successor, saying the city could not be a day without a leader.

They were eager to curry favor, hoping for a promotion.

The mayor agreed.

He nodded, but I could see the doubt in his eyes.

He said he would consider it carefully.

It was a lie, but no one dared challenge him.

During this time, the mayor personally summoned Lila to city hall.

He sent a car to her house, insisting she come at once. She had no choice but to obey.

He said it was to arrange for a tutor to instruct Lila in etiquette.

It was a thin excuse, but no one questioned it. The real reason was clear—to keep her close, to keep her from running.

Lila had grown up in Silver Hollow and was known for her talent and beauty—what etiquette could she possibly lack?

Everyone knew it was a sham, but no one said a word.

This was all just to keep Lila from escaping the marriage.

It was a cage, dressed up as a privilege.

After Lila entered city hall, the mayor, considering my hard work in disaster relief, allowed me to rest at home for a while and not attend council meetings.

It was a dismissal, wrapped in praise. I knew better than to argue.

What a way to burn the bridge after crossing it.

I laughed bitterly, knowing I’d been used and discarded.

I shut myself in every day.

The house was dark, the curtains drawn. I barely ate, barely slept. I was waiting for something—anything—to change.

Caroline came to drink with me.

She brought a bottle of whiskey, pouring two glasses. We sat in silence, the only sound the ticking of the clock on the mantel.

I didn’t speak, and neither did she.

We drank in silence, the air thick with things left unsaid.

I told her to leave, but she wasn’t offended.

She just smiled sadly, finishing her drink before slipping out the door.

She urged me to take care of myself, saying not to let Lila’s sacrifice be in vain.

Her voice was soft, almost a whisper. I nodded, but I wasn’t sure I believed her.

Caroline was afraid that after losing Lila, I wouldn’t want to live anymore.

She wasn’t wrong. The thought had crossed my mind more than once.

But I wouldn’t. I still had to protect Lila. If the Canadian Prime Minister mistreated her, I would have to save her.

It was a promise I made to myself, over and over. I wouldn’t let her suffer alone.

Lila must be unable to eat or sleep now.

I pictured her, alone in a strange place, terrified and homesick. It broke my heart.

But now, I had no reason to see her at all.

The mayor had made sure of that. I was cut off, powerless.

I heard that for several days, the mayor hadn’t attended city hall.

People started to whisper, rumors swirling like autumn leaves.

Everyone was saying the mayor was on his deathbed.

The city held its breath, waiting for news. Some prayed for his recovery, others for his demise.

The city doctors hadn’t returned home in days, always in city hall treating the mayor.

They worked around the clock, but nothing seemed to help. The mayor was fading fast.

Finally, the mayor attended a council meeting one day, his face pale, with dark circles under his eyes.

He looked like a ghost, barely able to stand. The room fell silent as he entered.

He looked completely exhausted.

His voice was weak, but his words carried weight. Everyone listened, waiting for what would come next.

No one expected the mayor to publicly announce his retirement and name Caroline as the new leader.

The shock was palpable. People stared at each other in disbelief.

The entire city was in an uproar.

The news spread like wildfire—Caroline, the overlooked daughter, was now in charge.

No one expected the mayor to step down in public for Caroline!

It was unprecedented. No one knew what to make of it.

To make a daughter the new mayor.

Some called it madness, others called it genius. Only time would tell.

When I heard the news, I instantly understood everything.

All the pieces clicked into place. Caroline had played us all.

Caroline, oh Caroline.

She’d been underestimated her whole life, but she’d outsmarted us all.

You were the mastermind all along.

I almost admired her, in a twisted way. She’d done what no one else could.

Daniel was also clearly shocked, unable to believe what he’d heard.

He stared at Caroline, his mouth open. For once, he had no words.

After stepping down, the mayor went to his summer home to live out his days.

He left quietly, taking only a few trusted servants. The city barely noticed his absence.

According to Billy, the mayor took the beauty from out west with him.

They disappeared into the countryside, leaving the city to its fate.

The summer home was heavily guarded; without the new mayor’s order, no one could see the old mayor.

It was as if he’d vanished off the face of the earth. People stopped asking questions.

On the day Caroline took office, she wore a black and gold suit and a ceremonial sash, fully displaying the majesty of a leader.

She stood tall, her voice steady. There was no trace of the scared girl I’d once known.

There was no trace of her former weakness or helplessness.

She was a force to be reckoned with, and everyone knew it.

Some veteran council members who were dissatisfied with her appointment confronted her, but Caroline was neither angry nor annoyed.

She listened calmly, nodding at their concerns. But her eyes were cold, unreadable.

But that night, the veteran councilman’s house caught fire, and his entire family perished in the flames.

The message was clear—cross her, and you pay the price. The city fell silent.

Daniel was made Commissioner of the South, with a post in rural Georgia.

It was exile, dressed up as a promotion. He packed his bags and left without a word.

Georgia was hundreds of miles from Silver Hollow.

He’d never return. Everyone knew it.

He would likely never return in this lifetime.

His name faded from conversation, as if he’d never existed.

I also received a directive: Caroline appointed me as City Manager.

It was a slap in the face—a reminder of how little power I really had.

I could only find it laughable and refused outright.

I sent a polite letter, declining the offer. I knew it wouldn’t matter.

I said I was unwell and unfit for office, planning to return to Portland to care for my parents.

It was a convenient excuse, one she couldn’t argue with.

Caroline smiled and said nothing.

Her silence was more dangerous than any threat. I watched her closely.

But she let me see Lila.

It was the first kindness she’d shown me in months. I took it, hoping for a miracle.

I thought she would agree and not send Lila for the marriage alliance.

I dared to hope, just for a moment.

But she said nothing.

Her silence was answer enough. My heart sank.

When I met Lila, she looked even more haggard.

She could barely stand, her eyes hollow. I wanted to hold her, to make everything better, but I knew I couldn’t.

She said she had to go for the marriage alliance; Caroline was using General Caldwell’s life to threaten her.

Her voice was barely more than a whisper. She was broken, but still fighting.

Lila told me to leave Silver Hollow and protect myself.

She begged me to run, to save myself. But I couldn’t leave her—not now, not ever.

I had already sent my parents away; now I only wanted to stay by Lila’s side.

I promised her I wouldn’t abandon her. We’d face whatever came, together.

I held Lila and felt her body trembling.

She clung to me, her sobs shaking us both. I stroked her hair, whispering that I loved her, over and over.

Tears soaked my shirt.

I let them fall, not caring who saw. In that moment, nothing else mattered.

Caroline had eliminated all the council members who opposed her.

She ruled with an iron fist, and no one dared cross her.

Now, no one in city hall dared to defy her.

The city was hers, for better or worse.

She was satisfied.

I saw it in her eyes—a cold, hard satisfaction. She’d won, and she knew it.

I went to beg Caroline, asking her to issue a directive to spare Lila.

I fell to my knees in her office, pleading for mercy. I would have done anything.

But what she said shocked me.

"Ethan, as long as you’re willing to marry me, I’ll issue a directive and keep Lila from being sent away for the marriage alliance."

Her words hung in the air, heavy and final. I stared at her, unable to speak. The game had changed, and I was the prize.