Chapter 8 - THE HIDDEN RECORDINGArthur gathered everyone in the library.
No one was allowed to leave.
The doors were locked.
Security stood outside.
Arthur placed the recording on the table.
His grandfather's voice filled the room again.
“The family will survive only if Arthur protects Daniel.”
The recording continued.
“Do not trust anyone who claims the trust belongs to the family business.”
Elena looked at Arthur.
That sentence directly contradicted everything she had originally said.
Arthur looked at her.
She shook her head.
“I was wrong.”
He nodded.
“I know.”
The recording continued.
“The trust belongs to the child.”
A pause.
“And only the child.”
Arthur looked relieved.
Then the voice added:
“But the child must know the truth.”
Daniel was too young to understand.
Arthur stopped the recording.
He would not expose his son to adult secrets.
Not yet.
Suddenly, Thomas shouted.
“Turn it off!”
Everyone turned.
Arthur stared at him.
“Why?”
Thomas looked terrified.
“Because that's not the full recording.”
Arthur's eyes narrowed.
“What do you know?”
Thomas shook his head.
“I was told never to speak about it.”
“By whom?”
Thomas whispered:
“Your father.”
Arthur froze.
“My father is dead.”
“I know.”
“Then how did he tell you?”
Thomas looked at Margaret.
She answered:
“Because your father didn't die when you thought.”
Arthur stared.
“What?”
Margaret explained.
Arthur's father had survived a serious accident years earlier.
He had gone into hiding after discovering the truth about the family's financial network.
Arthur had never known.
“He watched you from a distance,” Margaret said.
Arthur's voice cracked.
“Why didn't he come home?”
“Because the people behind the network threatened your life.”
Arthur sat down.
Everything was becoming too much.
His father alive.
His biological father Victor.
His mother alive.
Elena's mother alive.
Sophie alive.
Everyone had disappeared and returned.
Everyone had secrets.
Then Maria spoke.
“Mr. Vance.”
Arthur looked at her.
“I found something in the basement.”
She placed a small metal box on the desk.
Inside was a key.
Arthur recognized it.
The same key from the greenhouse.
Maria continued:
“It opens the old safe beneath the estate.”
They went downstairs.
Behind a false wall was a steel safe.
Arthur inserted the key.
Inside was a final document.
The original ownership agreement.
Arthur read it.
The estate.
The company.
The trust.
Everything belonged to Daniel.
Not Elena.
Not Arthur.
Not the family business.
Daniel.
Arthur looked at his son.
Then he noticed something.
The final signature wasn't his grandfather's.
It was Elena's.
Arthur stared.
“Elena.”
She looked at the document.
“I've never seen that.”
Arthur's eyes narrowed.
“Then someone forged your signature again.”
Thomas stepped backward.
Arthur noticed.
“You know something.”
Thomas shook his head.
“No.”
Arthur approached.
“You know who forged it.”
Thomas finally broke.
“Margaret.”
Elena turned toward her mother.
“Mom?”
Margaret closed her eyes.
“I did.”
Elena looked devastated.
“Why?”
“To protect you.”
“From what?”
Margaret whispered:
“From Victor.”
Victor suddenly entered the basement.
Everyone froze.
He looked at Margaret.
“You always blame me.”
Margaret answered:
“Because you deserve it.”
Victor looked at Arthur.
“I never wanted Daniel's trust.”
“Then what do you want?”
Victor's voice softened.
“Forgiveness.”
Arthur stared.
“For what?”
Victor looked at Elena.
“For leaving her.”
Elena began crying.
Victor continued:
“I was afraid.”
Arthur shook his head.
“Everyone was afraid.”
He looked around.
“But my son has paid the price for all of you.”
The room fell silent.
Then the lights went out.
A gunshot echoed.
When the emergency lights came on, Victor was on the floor.
Blood covered his shirt.
Arthur rushed toward him.
Victor grabbed his hand.
“Arthur…”
“What?”
“It's Thomas.”
Arthur turned.
May you like
Thomas was gone.
And the original trust document had disappeared.
