CHAPTER 5 — The Brother's Greatest Betrayal
Ethan answered the phone without taking his eyes off the journal.
"Daniel..."
A calm voice came through the speaker.
"So... Mother finally found you."
Ethan's blood ran cold.
"You knew she was alive?"
Daniel laughed softly.
"I've known for years."
Victoria gasped.
Margaret slowly closed her eyes, as if she'd expected this moment all along.
Ethan's fists tightened.
"You let me believe my daughter was dead."
"No," Daniel replied. "I made sure you believed it."
The room fell silent.
Daniel continued, almost casually.
"You were becoming too powerful. Father planned to hand Carter Global to you. I wasn't about to spend my life living in your shadow."
"You stole my child for a company?"
"I saved the company," Daniel corrected. "A billionaire with a family becomes predictable. A grieving billionaire becomes obsessed with work."
Every word hit Ethan like a knife.
For six years...
He had buried himself in billion-dollar deals, convinced success was the only way to escape his grief.
Daniel had engineered every second of it.
Margaret stepped forward.
"Your father discovered Daniel's plan too late. That's why he hid Lily instead of letting Daniel get to her."
Victoria looked confused.
"But he told me Lily would come home."
"He intended to," Margaret whispered.
"He died before he could."
Ethan's phone buzzed again.
A message.
One photograph.
Daniel stood inside the Carter Global boardroom...
Surrounded by every major shareholder.
Below the picture was a single sentence.
'By the time you arrive... the company won't belong to you anymore.'
Ethan immediately rushed toward the elevator.
But Margaret grabbed his arm.
"That's exactly what he wants."
Ethan turned.
"What are you talking about?"
Margaret looked him straight in the eyes.
"Daniel isn't trying to steal your company."
"He's trying to lure you away from Lily."
Before anyone could react...
The apartment lights suddenly went out.
May you like
Darkness swallowed the penthouse.
Then Lily screamed.
