CHAPTER 5 — The Mansion Built on Lies
The address led Michael to a forgotten Harrison estate outside Chicago.
A mansion abandoned for nearly thirty years.
Broken windows.
Rotting walls.
Overgrown gardens.
But inside...
The electricity still worked.
Someone had been living there.
Victor waited beside the fireplace.
Sophie sat in an armchair.
Unharmed.
Drawing quietly.
She looked up and smiled.
"Uncle Michael!"
Victor laughed.
"You finally told her."
Michael stepped forward.
"Let her go."
Victor shook his head.
"You still don't understand."
He walked toward a giant oil portrait hanging above the fireplace.
The original founder of the Harrison empire.
Edward Harrison.
Victor removed the painting.
Behind it...
A hidden steel vault.
Inside...
Hundreds of files.
Photographs.
Birth certificates.
DNA reports.
Hospital payments.
Baby swaps.
Michael stared in horror.
There weren't two babies.
There were dozens.
For nearly forty years...
Wealthy families had secretly exchanged newborns to preserve fortunes, political power, and bloodlines.
Victor smiled proudly.
"We didn't build an empire."
"We manufactured one."
Michael whispered,
"You're monsters."
Victor nodded.
"No."
"We're businessmen."
Then Victor handed Michael one final file.
The cover read:
Project Promise
Michael opened it.
His knees nearly gave out.
His own company...
had unknowingly financed the organization responsible for hiding every crime.
Every charitable donation.
Every tax shelter.
Every foundation.
Had secretly laundered money into Project Promise.
Michael had spent years funding the people who destroyed his family.
Suddenly...
Sophie tugged his sleeve.
"Uncle Michael..."
"The old man is lying."
Victor frowned.
"What?"
Sophie pointed toward the second floor.
"I saw another little girl."
Everyone looked up.
A tiny face disappeared behind an upstairs window.
May you like
Michael's blood ran cold.
There were more children inside the mansion.
