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Mac pushed away from the mantelpiece to stand before Truman’s chair. “Grandad and I have the means to put Jason Prescott in a very uncomfortable financial position. To essentially destroy him, if we chose to.”

“The takeover,” Johnson murmured.

“Yes,” Mac confirmed. “But as things stand, there would be nothing stopping him from coming after Noah again once he recovered. Nothing stopping him from using other tactics to gain control.”

“But if you and I were married,” Kelsey continued, “if you adopted Noah…”

“Then Jason would have to go through the both of us,” Mac finished. “And more importantly, through the full might of our wealth while he had nothing left in his pockets.”

“We’d put his balls in a vice,” Truman said with grim satisfaction. “Cut off his financial oxygen until he begged for mercy.”

“Jesus, Truman,” Amy muttered, but there was a note of admiration in her voice.

“It’s more than that,” Truman continued, his voice growing weaker again. “If you two were married, it would make an old man very happy. My final wish, you might say.”

Mac recognized the manipulation for what it was but couldn’t begrudge his grandfather the attempt. Truman had been pushing them together since the beginning, convinced they were meant for each other despite Mac’s insistence that he wasn’t staying.

“This is…” Kelsey stood abruptly and paced to the window. “This is a lot to consider.”

“It would be a business arrangement,” Mac said, trying to give her an out to make it less overwhelming. “We could draw up terms, set conditions.”

“A prenuptial agreement would be advisable,” Harrison added.

“Nothing says romance like a prenup,” Amy muttered.

“It’s not about romance,” Mac said, though something in him protested the statement. “It’s about protecting Noah. And yes, about giving my grandfather peace of mind in his final days.”

Truman coughed again, the sound wet and concerning. Mrs. Henley appeared with his medication, insisting he take it this time. The interruption gave Kelsey a moment to think with her back still to the room as she stared out at the ocean.

“The court would scrutinize your relationship carefully,” Sandra warned. “If they suspect the marriage is solely for custody purposes, it would do more harm than good.”

“Then we make them believe it’s real,” Mac said firmly. “We move in together. We present ourselves as a family.”

“You’d have to sleep in the same room, display affection, care for Noah together,” Harrison noted. “The Prescotts would almost certainly have you watched for any evidence the marriage is a sham.”

“They’ve already proven they’re not above spying,” Amy agreed, gesturing to the file containing the damning photographs.

Kelsey returned to her seat with deliberate movements. “If we do this,” she said, her voice steady now, “how quickly could we get Noah back?”

“We could file for an emergency review of the custody order based on changed circumstances,” Sandra said. “With Mac as your husband and petitioning to adopt Noah, we’d have a strong case for immediate return while the full hearing proceeds.”

“Days, not weeks?” Kelsey pressed.

“Potentially,” Harrison nodded, clearing his throat, “Especially if we can get it before a different judge. One with an alliance to Mac.”

“And the takeover?” Amy asked. “How does that factor in?”

“We hold it as leverage,” Kelsey whispered with bright eyes, as if a lightbulb had gone off. “We let Jason know it’s on the table if he doesn’t back off. If he chooses to fight anyway, we execute.”

“Scorched earth,” Truman added with satisfaction.

Kelsey closed her eyes briefly. Then she looked at Mac, really looked at him, as if searching for something in his expression.

“I’ll do it,” Kelsey heard her own voice saying. “I’ll marry you.”

She stood up and faced Mac as Truman looked on. Both men were stunned into silence.

“I’ll marry you. If you can help me to get my son back. I’ll do anything, sign any agreement you want. I believe it’ll work, I’m in.”