Ms. Escape: Marrying to Run, Fighting to Rise Novel

. For years , Harold had claimed publicly that he had only one grandchild - Curtis .

But everyone familiar with the old man knew the truth : Michael was his weakness , the child he could never refuse . Harold had loved his late wife deeply and had never remarried ; people admired that loyalty , even envied it . Back in the day , the Lincolns ' fortune had nearly collapsed . Their inherited wealth had been bled dry by previous generations , and Michael had fled when things got tough - signing paperwork to relinquish all inheritance rights just so he wouldn't be held responsible for the billions in debt the Lincolns nearly suffered .

But now , under Curtis's hands , the Lincoln Group had risen from the ashes and reclaimed its throne as Harborton's powerhouse . And now - now Michael wanted back in . He had a wife and a son to provide for , after all . And this wasn't just any wealthy family - it was the Lincolns , Harborton's richest . " Michael , after all these years , you finally figured out the truth . The outside world can't compare to home , can it ? " Rosa chimed in , her smile sugary and full of ill intent . These relatives weren't here to welcome Michael - they were here to make Curtis uncomfortable .

Curtis's rising power and independence meant they were losing influence , and resentment simmered beneath their polite smiles . If Michael's return created conflict , they stood to benefit . After all , the man had come back with a son . " What a massive place ... So extravagant . " Michael's wife , Juliet Lincoln , who'd grown up in a tiny fishing village , stared at the goldwood furniture like she couldn't decide whether to admire it or touch it . She glanced around nervously , her eyes wide . " This must cost a fortune ... " The women in the room exchanged looks of thinly veiled disdain .

Her dirt - cheap dress and greedy expression were practically shouting " country bumpkin . " But as much as they wanted to sneer , they couldn't deny one thing : she had given birth to a clever child - a top scorer in the SAT , brilliant and promising . Raised well , he might one day become a serious competitor . Someone like that could eventually rival Curtis . And that excited them . Because as long as Curtis stood alone , they would never get their hands on a penny of the Lincoln fortune . Some of them were even hoping to use their positions to skim a little on the side .

But Curtis had a reputation for being ruthless and incorruptible - he left no room for parasites . But if there were two heirs ? A rivalry ? Perfect . " I heard you have another son . Where is he ? Why didn't you bring him ? I heard from Tobey that he's quite the child - top of his class , even aced the SAT . " At the mention of their son , pride overflowed from both Michael and Juliet ; it radiated from their faces , unmistakable and unrestrained . AdminJ