Chapter 17: The Man Behind the Curtain
Daniel searched the database for almost an hour.
No one spoke.
Not even Noah.
The truth had become too heavy.
Every answer created another question.
Finally, Daniel turned the laptop around.
A photograph appeared.
An older man.
Gray hair.
Sharp eyes.
I didn’t recognize him.
But Daniel did.
“That’s impossible.””
“Who is he?””
Daniel swallowed.
“Victor Hale.””
The name meant nothing to me.
“Who is that?””
“The third founder.””
I looked at him.
“The man Claire said was dead?””
“Yes.””
Daniel zoomed in.
“He changed his identity after the company dispute.””
“Why?””
“Because he was the one who lost the most.””
I frowned.
“But if he lost everything, why would he work with Ellis?””
Daniel stared at the screen.
“He didn’t.””
A chill moved through me.
“What?””
“He used Ellis.””
The room went silent.
Suddenly, everything looked different.
Ellis wasn’t the mastermind.
He was a piece.
A powerful piece.
But still a piece.
Noah looked at the photo.
“So Dad was working for him?””
Daniel nodded.
“Probably.””
My stomach turned.
For years, I thought Ellis was the monster.
But maybe he was just the face everyone could see.
The real danger had been hidden.
Watching.
Waiting.
My phone buzzed.
A message.
Unknown number.
*You’re finally asking the right questions.*
I showed Daniel.
His expression changed.
“Don’t reply.””
Another message appeared.
*Your father tried to stop me. Ellis tried to replace me. Claire tried to expose me.*
Then:
*And now you have everything they failed to protect.*
My hands shook.
Everything.
The inheritance.
The evidence.
Noah.
I typed one response.
*Who are you?*
The reply came instantly.
*Someone your father should have feared.*
Then a photo appeared.
A recent photo.
Not an old one.
Not a document.
A photo taken today.
Of me.
Standing outside Daniel’s office.
My blood ran cold.
“He’s watching us.””
Daniel stood immediately.
“We leave.””
Noah grabbed his backpack.
“What about the evidence?””
Daniel picked up the flash drive.
“We take it.””
We rushed outside.
But before we reached the car, I noticed something.
A black SUV parked across the street.
The same type of vehicle Ellis used.
My heart raced.
“Daniel.””
He saw it.
“Get Noah inside.””
The SUV door opened.
A man stepped out.
Not Ellis.
Older.
Calmer.
More frightening.
Because he didn’t look angry.
He looked patient.
Like someone who had been waiting years for this moment.
Victor Hale.
He looked directly at me.
Then smiled.
“Sabrina.””
My entire body froze.
How did he know my name?
He walked closer.
“I’ve wanted to meet you for a long time.””
Daniel moved in front of us.
“Stay away from them.””
Victor laughed softly.
“Daniel Reeves.””
He looked amused.
“You always were too loyal.””
Daniel’s face hardened.
“You destroyed people’s lives.””
Victor tilted his head.
“No.””
He looked at me.
“I corrected mistakes.””
I felt anger rise.
“You manipulated my husband.””
Victor smiled.
“Your husband was already broken.””
“You used him.””
“Yes.””
The honesty shocked me.
“I gave Ellis what he wanted.””
“What?””
“Power.””
He stepped closer.
“And in return, he gave me access to what your father stole.””
I frowned.
“My father stole?””
Victor smiled.
“That’s the story he told you.””
I felt the ground shift.
“You’re lying.””
“Am I?””
Victor looked at Noah.
Then back at me.
“Ask your son.””
I turned.
“Noah?””
Victor smiled.
“Your father never told you why he chose Noah as the key to the inheritance.””
Noah froze.
“What does that mean?””
Victor took another step.
“It means your grandfather knew the truth about you.””
My heart stopped.
“What truth?””
Victor looked at Noah.
May you like
And said:
“You were never supposed to inherit anything.””
