Chapter 8 - THE PERSON NONE OF US SUSPECTED
The boardroom became silent.
I stared at Ethan.
“Someone in my family?”
He nodded.
“Not your parents.”
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
“Then why say it?”
“Because the person who forged Adrian's signature had access to information only three people knew.”
“Who?”
“Me. Adrian. And Charles.”
Charles's expression hardened.
“That is impossible.”
Ethan shook his head.
“No.”
He looked at Adrian.
“You know it's possible.”
Adrian's face changed.
“What are you talking about?”
“The original trust.”
I looked at him.
“What about it?”
“The trust wasn't merely hidden.”
Ethan reached into his jacket.
He removed a small brass key.
I recognized it immediately.
It was the key to my father's old study cabinet.
I stared.
“Where did you get that?”
“Your father gave it to me.”
My heart stopped.
“My father?”
“He gave it to me nine years ago.”
I turned toward my father, who had just entered the room.
He looked shocked.
“I never gave you that.”
Ethan smiled bitterly.
“Not directly.”
Then I understood.
Someone had copied the key.
Someone had access to our family records.
Someone had been manipulating all of us.
My father walked toward the table.
“Give me the key.”
Ethan handed it over.
My father examined it.
“This isn't mine.”
He looked at me.
“It belonged to your grandmother.”
I frowned.
“Why would someone copy it?”
“To access the old family records.”
Charles spoke quietly.
“The original trust documents.”
Everyone went silent.
Adrian looked at me.
“Someone wanted the trust.”
“Who?”
Charles looked toward the doorway.
No one was there.
Then my mother's voice came from behind us.
“I know.”
We turned.
She was holding an old photograph.
She placed it on the table.
It showed my grandmother.
Beside her stood a young woman I did not recognize.
“Who is she?”
My mother swallowed.
“Your grandmother's former financial secretary.”
I stared.
“What does she have to do with this?”
“She had a son.”
My father looked at my mother.
“What are you saying?”
“The son worked for Northbridge.”
Ethan went pale.
“Marcus?”
My mother nodded.
“Marcus Reed.”
Maya's face changed.
“My uncle.”
Everyone turned toward her.
She looked horrified.
“I didn't know.”
I stared.
“Your uncle worked for Ethan?”
“Yes.”
Ethan sat down.
“He was dismissed three months ago.”
“Why?”
“He had access to internal accounts.”
Adrian stepped forward.
“What did he steal?”
Ethan looked at him.
“Nothing.”
“Then why was he dismissed?”
“Because he discovered something.”
“What?”
Ethan looked at me.
“Your original trust.”
The room became silent.
Maya covered her mouth.
“My uncle knew?”
“Yes.”
“And he wanted control of it?”
Ethan nodded.
“But why forge Adrian's signature?”
“Because if the market believed Hayes Global was buying Northbridge, the stock would rise.”
I understood.
“Then he could sell his shares.”
“Yes.”
“Who owns those shares?”
Ethan hesitated.
“Marcus.”
My stomach dropped.
“How many?”
“Eight percent.”
Adrian's expression hardened.
“That isn't enough to control the company.”
“No.”
Ethan looked at me.
“But combined with your disputed shares, it could create chaos.”
I looked at the forged acquisition document.
Suddenly the entire plan made sense.
Not a romance.
Not revenge.
Not even Ethan.
A financial attack.
Someone had used our personal betrayal as cover.
I turned toward Maya.
“Where is your uncle?”
She shook her head.
“I don't know.”
Her phone buzzed.
She looked down.
A message.
Her face went white.
“What?”
She handed me the phone.
A photograph.
It showed Marcus sitting inside a car.
Beside him was a suitcase.
And on the seat was a folder marked:
BENNETT FAMILY TRUST.
Under the photograph was a message.
Tell Claire the truth before someone gets hurt.
I stared at the image.
Adrian stepped closer.
“We need to find him.”
Maya shook her head.
“No.”
Everyone looked at her.
She pointed at the photograph.
May you like
“That car belongs to my grandmother.”
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