Hey Christian
I arranged for this email to be sent to you today. If you're reading this, it means I was supposed to be in New York yesterday, but I'm still not back. It also means that no one knows where I am and that no one can get hold of me.
That's not important right now.
What's important is my wife, who may not be showing it, but is most certainly worried out of her mind and trying to find out about my whereabouts.
I need you to be there for her.
Charlotte has a surgery scheduled for today to help her carry our baby to term. She's gone through great lengths to hide it, but she's expecting our first child - your niece or nephew.
I hope by now you've come to realise that Charlotte is the kindest and most caring person you'll ever meet. Chrissie, you have never treated her with any kindness and she has always chosen to overlook that and help you become more than just our family's money. She pushes you. She has always pushed you so that you wouldn't be okay with putting in the bare minimum. Whether you like to admit it or not, you always excel when she's in our lives and you're always happiest with yourself when she's a part of our family.
You may think she's being hard on you, but really she's done what any brother or sister would do for their sibling. She's helped you to make sure you can live a life without any regrets and whether you like it or not, such a life requires sacrifice and a work ethic that most people do not have.
I must admit to you that I failed to help you nurture this work ethic.
I allowed my friendship with Lauren to turn you into a person you would have eventually grown to resent. I tried to put some distance between the two of you, but it was hard because Lauren became an intricate part of our lives and we spent almost all of our free time together. I saw her own lack of ambition, sloth-like behaviour and cry baby mentality rub off on you, but I underestimated the extent of the influence she had on you.
I forgot myself. I forgot that I'm your big brother and that no matter what I felt I owed to a friend or anyone, it should never be at your expense.
For this, I apologise. I really do because I love you, Chrissie and I want nothing but to see you happy with the person you have chosen to be.
Charlotte also wants that for you. She has wanted that for you ever since we were kids. Despite the hostility you've shown her, she's always sought to get the best out of you.
Not once in the past five years have I seen you as happy with yourself as you've been since Charlotte came back into our lives. You're running again, reading more, networking more, working more. You're more curious, more informed, investing more, taking many more risks.
You've grown stronger mentally, emotionally, physically and most definitely financially.
You are so happy, Christian and it saddens me that I've deprived you of that happiness all because I wished to repay Lauren for her help when Charlotte and I broke up.
It is now time for you to return the favour to Charlotte. It's time for you to help her instead of it being the other way around.
You've received this email because something has happened to me and, as a result, I cannot accompany Charlotte to her surgery today.
I have a security detail watching her, but if something has happened to me, chances are her security has also been compromised.
Please do as follows to ensure my wife's safety:
1. Do not let her leave your sight. I know today is a workday, but you will no longer be going to work. Today, your priority is keeping my wife and the woman who has done nothing but help you all her life, safe.
2. Make sure Joshua is with her at all times. If he's not there and the people watching her are carrying on as if he is merely absent, then know that those people can no longer be trusted.
3. From this point forward, you need to assume that Lauren and her family are going to attempt to kill Charlie and that they think they have succeeded in killing me or maybe even holding me captive. They are undoubtedly our enemy, Chrissie and you must treat them as such. We do not show our enemies any kindness. I taught you this. Do not forget this just because of the friendship we once shared with Lauren.
4. I have arranged an additional security detail for you, Jona and Charlotte in case Charlotte's current security detail has been compromised. A list of their names and faces is attached to this email. Trust them today and no one else. They will be in touch with you.
5. There is a secret door in my study that leads to a basement downstairs filled with guns and anything you might need to protect yourself and Charlotte. Press on the button underneath my table and the door will open.
6. If you are in the slightest bit suspicious about anything today, please don't shrug it off. Treat everything and everyone as a threat.
7. Charlie may not show it, but she's scared, Chrissie. You seem to think she's invincible and that the things you've said to her and done to her do not hurt her. They do and she hasn't forgotten the way you've treated her when all she's ever wanted is for you to treat her like a person. Most people would have stopped trying to get along with you, but my wife desperately wants you to like her because you, me, mom and Belle are the only family she's ever known and what we think of her matters a great deal to her. Distract her today. Try to get her to focus on anything except the fact that I'm not there with her.
I know you didn't approve of us getting back together and you probably thought I was stupid and a fool for doing that. However, you should know that no one understands me the way that woman understands me. No one loves me and will ever love me as much as she does. Many people have to wait until they're adults to meet their soulmate. I met mine when I was just a kid and by some miracle, I was smart enough to know it the second I found her.
One day, you too will meet your soulmate and you'll understand why I wanted Charlie living with me the second she came back. You'll understand why I didn't waste any time marrying her and trying to start a family with her. I refuse to waste any time when it comes to her and our happiness.
There is no one for me but that woman.
I regret not fighting harder for her back then. I shouldn't have given up that easily; especially because I don't think Charlie is to blame for what happened.
I am trusting you with the safety of my wife and unborn child, Chrissie. Do not let me down.
As for me, plenty of people have tried to kill me. You know that. I may be in a bind at the moment, but I'll figure a way out of it. I always do.
If I don't ... If I don't figure a way out of things this time, you need to keep Charlie and our baby safe. I wouldn't trust anyone but you with such a task.
Do not let her blame herself. Do not let her get lost in trying to avenge me or mourning the future we'll never have. Let her know that the best thing I've ever accomplished in my life is getting her to love me, marry me and to start a family with me. Tell her that she's the reason I know true and utter happiness and I wouldn't take any moment spent with her back.
You, Charlie, Belle and mom are the most important people in the world to me. I trust that you know there's absolutely nothing I wouldn't do to keep you all safe and happy; no matter the cost to me.
Our money, our power, our influence ... none of it matters if we don't love each other and stick together as a family. Charlie is our family and the Greysons always protect their own at all cost. Protect her.
Please do not let me down, Chrissie.
I hope to see you soon.
Regards
Lucas
Aksara