Chapter 8 - THE FOUR-BILLION-DOLLAR SECRETEthan thought he had heard wrong.
“Four billion?”
Hannah nodded.
“Your father didn't build Parker Holdings alone.”
She explained that Ethan's father had secretly created a second company.
One that owned the family's international assets.
It was hidden from the public.
The company had been placed into a trust.
And the beneficiary wasn't Ethan.
It was Lily.
Ethan stared at his daughter.
“Why Lily?”
“Your father knew Marcus would eventually try to control the company.”
Hannah pulled a small envelope from beneath her pillow.
“I was supposed to give you this only if I survived.”
Inside was another key.
And a photograph.
Ethan recognized the location.
His father's private office.
Hannah whispered:
“There's a second vault.”
Ethan stood.
“Where?”
“Under Parker Tower.”
That night, Ethan and Hannah entered the abandoned basement beneath the company.
They found the vault.
Inside was the complete financial archive.
But there was something else.
A video.
Ethan pressed play.
His father appeared on screen.
“My son, if you're watching this, Marcus has probably already tried to destroy your family.”
Ethan's eyes filled.
His father continued.
“But there's one thing I never told you.”
The screen changed.
A photograph appeared.
A young Ethan.
A young Hannah.
And another man.
Ethan stared.
He recognized him.
Marcus Vale.
His father continued:
“Marcus is not your employee.”
Ethan stopped breathing.
“He is your mother's son.”
Silence.
Hannah covered her mouth.
Marcus was Ethan's half-brother.
The man who had spent years trying to destroy the Parker family was family.
Then the lights went out.
A voice came from the darkness.
May you like
“You finally found it.”
Marcus.
