CHAPTER 4 — THE LETTER THAT DESTROYED AN ENTIRE EMPIRE
The media called it the biggest inheritance scandal in the state's history.
Every news station wanted Ethan's story.
The man who had stolen his childhood was behind bars.
His mother's name had finally been cleared.
And everyone believed...
The nightmare was over.
They were wrong.
One week after moving into Michael's old mansion, Ethan discovered a hidden compartment beneath the nursery floorboards.
Inside was a wooden box sealed with his father's family crest.
His grandmother burst into tears the moment she saw it.
"I prayed no one would ever find this..."
Ethan carefully opened the box.
There was only one envelope.
On the front, written in his father's handwriting:
"Open this only if I don't survive."
His hands shook as he unfolded the letter.
My son... if you're reading this, then the people I trusted have already betrayed me.
The man raising you isn't the mastermind.
He's only a pawn.
The person who ordered my death... carries our family name.
The room fell silent.
"What...?" Ethan whispered.
His grandmother's face turned ghostly white.
She slowly sank into a chair.
"No..."
"It can't be..."
At that exact moment, the front door opened.
A tall man in an expensive suit walked inside with a calm smile.
"Eleanor..."
"I heard the house was finally reopened."
Ethan looked at him.
His grandmother began shaking uncontrollably.
"Richard..."
"You weren't supposed to come here."
The man smiled at Ethan.
"So..."
"This is Michael's son."
He extended his hand politely.
"I'm your uncle."
But Ethan noticed something strange.
The expensive watch on Richard's wrist...
It matched the one shown in the final security footage from the night Michael died.
Before Ethan could say a word...
His phone vibrated.
An anonymous message appeared.
DON'T TRUST YOUR UNCLE.
HE WAS NEVER AFTER THE MONEY.
HE'S AFTER YOU.
Ethan slowly looked back up.
Richard was still smiling.
But now...
His smile looked exactly like the smile of the man who had destroyed his life.
And hidden inside Richard's jacket pocket...
Was another sealed envelope.
It carried the exact same family crest.
Only this one was marked with three chilling words:
May you like
"Phase Two Begins."
To Be Continued...
