Chapter 7: The Betrayal Standing Beside Him
Ethan stared at the photograph on Daniel's phone.
The original cream document.
The beneficiary's name had been crossed out and replaced with his own.
For several seconds, he couldn't speak.
“Where did you get this?”” he finally asked.
Daniel swallowed.
“It was sent to me thirty seconds ago.””
“By whom?””
“An unknown number.””
Ethan took the phone and enlarged the photograph.
The document appeared genuine. He recognized the embossed seal in the bottom corner and the distinctive blue ink used by his father's attorney.
But something was wrong.
The signature beneath the amendment looked too perfect.
It was identical to his father's handwriting.
Almost identical.
“Margaret,” Ethan called.
She hurried over.
“What is it?””
He showed her the photograph.
Margaret's face tightened.
“This isn't possible.””
“Why?””
“Because the original document was sealed in the attorney's vault. Only three people had authorized access.””
Eleanor approached.
“Who?””
Margaret hesitated.
“Your father. His attorney. And me.””
Ethan looked at her.
“You?””
Margaret nodded.
“I was the chief financial officer. Your father appointed me as the independent administrator of the trust.””
Victor laughed bitterly.
“How convenient.””
Margaret turned toward him.
“Be quiet, Victor.””
He smiled.
“Still pretending you're innocent?””
Ethan raised his hand.
“Enough. Margaret, where is the original?””
“In a secure vault.””
“Then who photographed it?””
“I don't know.””
Daniel spoke nervously.
“Mr. Cole, there's something else.””
Ethan turned.
“What?””
“The person who sent the photograph also sent a message.””
Daniel handed him the phone.
The message read:
You should stop looking for the person who betrayed your father. The truth is much closer than you think.
Ethan read it twice.
Then he looked at the people around him.
Brooke was crying quietly.
Victor was being watched by Detective Harris.
Richard Vale stood near the table, his face pale.
Eleanor looked worried.
Margaret was gripping her briefcase.
And Daniel seemed unable to meet Ethan's eyes.
“Daniel,” Ethan said.
“Yes, sir?””
“How long have you worked for my family?””
“Six years.””
“Did you know my father?””
Daniel nodded.
“He was very kind to me.””
“Did he ever give you anything to keep safe?””
Daniel's expression changed.
Only slightly.
But Ethan noticed.
“No, sir.””
Ethan stepped closer.
“Think carefully.””
Daniel looked toward the entrance.
Then back at Ethan.
“I don't know what you're suggesting.””
“I'm asking a question.””
Before Daniel could answer, Margaret's phone rang.
She glanced at the screen.
Her face went white.
“It's the attorney's office.””
Ethan nodded.
“Answer it.””
Margaret put the call on speaker.
A woman's voice came through.
“Ms. Ellis, we have a problem. Someone accessed the vault this afternoon.””
Margaret gripped the phone.
“Who?””
“We're reviewing the security footage.””
“Was the document removed?””
A pause.
“Yes.””
Eleanor covered her mouth.
Ethan looked at Margaret.
“When?””
“Approximately two hours ago.””
Ethan slowly turned toward Victor.
Victor shook his head.
“Don't look at me. I haven't been near that office.””
Richard Vale suddenly spoke.
“Neither have I.””
Ethan looked at him.
“Then who has?””
The voice on the phone answered.
“We identified the person entering the building.””
Margaret's eyes widened.
“Who?””
The woman hesitated.
Then she gave a name.
“Daniel Foster.””
Everyone turned.
Daniel stepped backward.
His phone slipped from his hand and struck the floor.
For a moment, he looked as though he might run.
Then he raised both hands.
“I can explain.””
Ethan's expression hardened.
“Start talking.””
Daniel swallowed.
“I didn't steal the document.””
“Then why were you in the vault?””
“I was following instructions.””
“Whose instructions?””
Daniel looked toward Eleanor.
She stared at him.
“Daniel?””
He lowered his eyes.
“I'm sorry, Mrs. Cole.””
Ethan stepped forward.
“Who sent you?””
Daniel's voice broke.
“Your father.””
Silence.
Eleanor shook her head.
“My husband died four years ago.””
Daniel nodded.
“I know.””
“Then stop lying.””
“I'm not lying.””
He reached into his jacket and removed a small envelope.
It was old, yellowed at the edges, and sealed with a red wax stamp.
Ethan recognized the handwriting immediately.
His father's.
Daniel placed it on the table.
“Mr. Robert gave this to me six months before he died. He instructed me to deliver it only if someone attempted to change the original trust documents.””
Ethan stared at the envelope.
“Why didn't you tell us?””
“Because he made me promise.””
“Promise what?””
Daniel looked at Eleanor.
“That I would protect the identity of the final beneficiary until the proper time.””
Eleanor's eyes filled with tears.
“Daniel, what have you done?””
He shook his head.
“I thought I was protecting Ethan.””
Ethan opened the envelope.
Inside was a handwritten note and a small brass key.
The note read:
My son, if this letter reaches you, someone has attempted to alter the trust. Do not assume the person who appears most guilty is the person who planned everything.
Ethan read the sentence again.
Then he looked at Daniel.
“Where does this key lead?””
Daniel took a breath.
“To your father's private archive.””
Eleanor stepped closer.
“Robert's archive was destroyed after his death.””
Daniel shook his head.
“No, ma'am. The office was cleared. The archive was moved.””
“Where?””
Daniel looked at Ethan.
“To the old family estate.””
Ethan closed his hand around the key.
He remembered the estate.
The place where his father had taught him to ride a bicycle, where they had celebrated birthdays, and where Ethan had proposed to Brooke.
The same place Brooke and Chad had chosen for their wedding.
His stomach tightened.
“Who knows about the archive?””
Daniel answered quietly.
“Three people.””
“Who?””
“Your father. Me. And the person who ordered the original trust document changed.””
Ethan stared at him.
“Who?””
Daniel's eyes moved toward Margaret.
Then toward Eleanor.
Finally, they stopped on Richard Vale.
Richard's face drained of color.
“That's ridiculous.””
Daniel shook his head.
“I saw you leaving the estate last month.””
Richard stepped backward.
“You're confused.””
“I recognized your car.””
Richard looked at Ethan.
“Don't believe him. He's trying to save himself.””
Ethan said nothing.
Richard suddenly reached for his briefcase.
Detective Harris moved forward.
“Mr. Vale, step away from the table.””
Richard stopped.
Then he laughed.
A strange, nervous laugh.
“You all think this is about money.””
Ethan stared at him.
“Isn't it?””
Richard slowly looked up.
“No, Ethan.””
He leaned closer.
“It's about what your father discovered before he died.””
Eleanor went still.
“What did Robert discover?””
Richard smiled faintly.
“He discovered that someone had been stealing from the company long before your accident.””
Ethan felt a chill move down his spine.
“Who?””
Richard's eyes shifted toward Eleanor.
May you like
And then he said something that made the entire ballroom freeze.
“Your father believed the person responsible was his own wife.””
