**CHAPTER 9 THE UNCLE FROM THE SHADOWS**
The next morning, someone unexpected appeared.
Arthur Whitmore.
The man whose name had haunted every document.
The missing piece of the puzzle.
My father’s younger brother.
The man who disappeared from the company years ago.
He requested a private meeting.
I almost refused.
Almost.
But something told me I needed to hear him.
We met at an old restaurant outside the city.
Arthur looked nothing like Richard.
No expensive suit.
No arrogant smile.
Just an exhausted man carrying years of guilt.
“You look like your mother.”
That was the first thing he said.
I froze.
Nobody mentioned my mother anymore.
Not after she died.
Not after my father decided her name was a weakness.
“Why are you here?”
Arthur looked at me.
“Because your father is going to destroy you.”
I smiled coldly.
“He already tried.”
“No.”
Arthur shook his head.
“You don’t understand.”
He placed a folder on the table.
“This is what happened after the accident.”
I opened it.
Inside were documents.
Private payments.
Hidden accounts.
Names.
Then I saw one sentence.
My blood turned cold.
“Project Phoenix.”
I looked at him.
“What is this?”
Arthur whispered:
“The plan your father created to remove anyone who threatened his empire.”
My heart stopped.
“Anyone?”
Arthur looked at me.
“Yes.”
May you like
He lowered his voice.
“Including you.”
