Chapter 13: The Last Person I Trusted
The room went silent.
Not the kind of silence that happens when people are shocked.
The kind that happens when everyone is afraid to speak because one wrong word could change everything.
I stared at the screen.
Then at Marcus.
Then back at the screen.
Secondary beneficiary.
Marcus Vale.
The man who had appeared out of nowhere.
The man who claimed he was protecting my father’s legacy.
The man who knew every secret before I did.
My voice came out barely above a whisper.
“Why?””
Marcus didn’t answer.
That was the first thing that scared me.
Everyone else had lied with words.
Marcus lied with silence.
Victor stepped between us.
“Marcus.””
The older man sighed.
“I knew this would happen eventually.””
I looked at him.
“You knew?””
He finally met my eyes.
“Yes.””
My chest tightened.
“You knew your name was on this document?””
“Yes.””
“And you still helped me find it?””
Marcus nodded slowly.
“Because you needed to see the truth.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Which truth?””
My hand pointed at the screen.
“This says if I was removed from control, you would inherit everything.””
Marcus looked at the document.
“That was your father’s emergency plan.””
“My father chose you?””
“Yes.””
The answer hurt.
Not because I didn’t trust Marcus.
Because I didn’t understand why.
“My father barely knew you after he died.””
Marcus looked down.
“Your father knew me better than anyone.””
Victor watched him carefully.
“Explain.””
Marcus walked toward the desk.
“Your father discovered that someone inside the company was preparing to take control.””
“Ethan’s father,” I said.
Marcus nodded.
“But he didn’t know how far it went.””
He looked at me.
“So he created a backup plan.””
“To give you control?””
“No.””
His answer surprised me.
“To give you time.””
I frowned.
“What does that mean?””
Marcus touched the old wooden desk.
“Your father knew power attracts people who want it.””
He looked at the hard drive.
“He knew if you inherited everything immediately, they would come after you.””
Victor slowly understood.
“He created a temporary guardian.””
Marcus nodded.
“Exactly.””
I stared.
“So you were never supposed to own the company.””
“No.””
“Then why does the document say beneficiary?””
“Because your father needed someone who could legally protect your position if you were threatened.””
I looked back at the screen.
The words still felt dangerous.
“Why didn’t anyone tell me?””
Marcus smiled sadly.
“Because your father wanted you to live without fear.””
I swallowed.
“That choice almost destroyed me.””
He looked at me.
“I know.””
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Victor looked at another file.
“Wait.””
He pointed at the screen.
“This protocol was activated.””
My stomach dropped.
“What?””
Victor scrolled.
“Someone triggered the emergency transfer.””
I looked at Marcus.
“You?””
He shook his head.
“No.””
“Then who?””
The answer came from the doorway.
“I did.””
Everyone turned.
Ethan stood there.
His suit was wrinkled.
His face looked exhausted.
But his eyes were different.
No anger.
No arrogance.
Just regret.
I stared at him.
“You activated it?””
He nodded.
“Two weeks ago.””
My hands curled into fists.
“Why?””
“Because I realized my father was going further than I knew.””
I laughed.
“You realized?””
He flinched.
“I know how it sounds.””
“You have no idea.””
Ethan looked at the ground.
“I found out he planned to completely remove you.””
“And what did you do?””
“I tried to stop him.””
I shook my head.
“You tried to stop him after helping him.””
“Yes.””
His honesty surprised me.
Then anger replaced it.
“You don’t get credit for changing your mind after hurting me.””
“I know.””
That answer stopped me.
Because he didn’t defend himself.
He didn’t explain.
He just accepted it.
Ethan looked at Marcus.
“My father knows about the archive now.””
Marcus nodded.
“He will come back.””
Victor looked concerned.
“He has the evidence?””
“No,” Ethan said.
Everyone looked at him.
“I took the recorder.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
Ethan reached into his coat.
He pulled out a small device.
The recorder.
The one everyone thought was stolen.
“I hid it before the lights went out.””
Victor stared.
“Why?””
Ethan looked at me.
“Because I knew if my father got it, he would destroy the only chance you had.””
I wanted to hate him.
I wanted to believe nothing he did mattered anymore.
But the truth was complicated.
And complicated was harder than anger.
Then Ethan’s phone rang.
He answered.
A few seconds later, his expression changed.
“What happened?”” I asked.
He looked at me.
“The board meeting.””
Victor frowned.
“What about it?””
Ethan lowered the phone.
“They called an emergency vote.””
My stomach sank.
“When?””
He looked at the clock.
“Thirty minutes ago.””
“That’s impossible.””
“No.””
His face went pale.
“It isn’t.””
May you like
He looked at me.
“They already started.””
