CHAPTER 7 — The Billionaire Who Was Never Dead
Claire didn't drive.
She flew.
Within an hour, her helicopter landed at the Blackwell family estate—a mansion abandoned for more than a decade.
The front gate was already open.
Someone had been expecting her.
Inside...
The lights were on.
A chessboard sat in the center of the grand hall.
One black king.
One white queen.
Only two pieces remained.
Then a voice echoed through the room.
"You finally found me."
Claire turned slowly.
An elderly man stepped out of the shadows.
Perfectly dressed.
Perfectly healthy.
His face matched every newspaper photo from twenty years earlier.
William Blackwell.
The legendary billionaire.
Founder of the Blackwell empire.
Officially declared dead eleven years ago after a private plane crash.
Claire whispered,
"That's impossible..."
William smiled.
"No."
"They buried the wrong man."
Arthur entered from another doorway.
He wasn't surprised.
He bowed his head respectfully.
"Chairman."
Claire looked between them.
"You knew?"
Arthur nodded.
"For twenty-five years."
William walked toward Claire.
"I disappeared because my own board wanted me dead."
"So I watched."
"I tested everyone."
"I watched my sons."
"I watched my company."
"And I watched you."
Claire's heart raced.
"You watched me lose everything?"
William answered without emotion.
"I watched to see whether power would change your heart."
He looked directly into her eyes.
"It didn't."
Then William handed Claire a sealed envelope.
Inside...
Was a new will.
Signed years ago.
If William ever returned...
The next Chairperson of Blackwell Holdings would not be chosen by blood.
But by integrity.
Claire's name was already written inside.
Ethan's...
Was nowhere to be found.
At that very moment...
Federal agents surrounded Ethan's luxury penthouse.
He smiled when he opened the door.
"You finally came."
The lead investigator frowned.
"You knew?"
Ethan quietly held out his wrists.
"I've been waiting."
May you like
"I want immunity."
"I know who stole everything."
