Chapter 11 - The Wrong Heir

Jonathan Hale smiled as though they were speaking at a family dinner.

Victor could barely contain his rage.

“Let Ethan go.”

Jonathan crouched beside the boy.

Ethan recoiled.

“I spent my whole life hearing that everything belonged to you.”

Victor said nothing.

Jonathan continued.

“My father was older.”

“He helped build the company.”

“But Grandfather chose you.”

“Why?”

“Because Julian stole from him.”

Jonathan’s expression hardened.

“That’s what you were told.”

Lily watched from behind the monitor.

Monroe was recording everything.

Jonathan continued.

“My father discovered Project Aster.”

“He wanted control so he could profit from it.”

Victor’s face tightened.

Jonathan laughed.

“At least he understood power.”

“Then Amelia started asking questions.”

Serena stepped closer to the camera.

“That became inconvenient.”

Victor stared at her.

“You killed Amelia.”

Serena smiled faintly.

“I didn’t touch her car.”

“Who did?”

Jonathan answered.

“My father arranged it.”

Victor felt the room tilt.

Julian.

His own brother had ordered Amelia’s death.

Serena continued.

“Julian panicked afterward.”

“He thought Amelia had left evidence.”

“He wanted Ethan removed too.”

Victor’s fists tightened.

“What stopped him?”

Serena looked at Ethan.

“Me.”

For one second, nobody expected that answer.

Victor stared.

“You?”

“Your son was useful alive.”

“The trust made him valuable.”

“She had protected Ethan not out of mercy, but because his existence kept a pathway open.

Jonathan stepped into frame again.

“When my father died, Serena promised me what should have belonged to our side of the family.”

Victor looked at him.

“And kidnapping a four-year-old seemed reasonable?”

Jonathan’s eyes turned cold.

“You think you are innocent because you never saw what your company did.”

“That doesn’t make you innocent.”

The accusation landed.

Victor knew it.

Years of travel.

Delegation.

Trust.

Blindness.

He had allowed other people to operate in his name.

The call was ending.

Serena gave final instructions.

“Midnight.”

“No police.”

“Bring all three drives.”

“If we see one squad car, Ethan goes somewhere you will never find.”

The screen went black.

Monroe looked at Victor.

“We have twenty-three minutes.”

Victor grabbed the case.

“I’m going.”

Lily blocked the doorway.

“Not alone.”

Victor stared at her.

“She said alone.”

“She also said no one would believe a maid.”

May you like

"The vanilla buttercream hit the hardwood floor with a sickening, heavy...

"The vanilla buttercream hit the hardwood floor with a sickening, heavy thud. I didn’t even register the sound of the custom glass...

"The perfect wife was about to commit the unthinkable. Then the front do...

"""""""The perfect wife was about to commit the unthinkable. Then the front door opened.""""The heavy bronze candlestick was raise...

"When my husband shoved me into the freezing pool in front of his entire...

"When my husband shoved me into the freezing pool in front of his entire family, I thought the cold water would be the worst part....

Lily’s expression hardened.

“She has been wrong about me before.”