CHAPTER 8 — "The Billionaire's Brother Finally Confessed... And Revealed the Secret Their Father Took to the Grave."
Edward Ashford was arrested forty-eight hours later while attempting to board a private jet bound for South America.
For the first twelve hours...
He said nothing.
Then the detectives placed Sarah's videotape in front of him.
Edward watched it without blinking.
When it ended...
He quietly asked for Richard.
The brothers sat alone inside an interrogation room.
No lawyers.
No cameras.
Just twenty-five years of lies between them.
Edward finally spoke.
"I never hated Sarah."
Richard stared at him.
"I hated you."
Edward admitted that their father had raised them differently from the very beginning.
Richard was the chosen heir.
The favorite.
The future chairman.
Edward received only leftovers.
"When Father discovered Sarah was pregnant..."
"I begged him to let you marry her."
Richard looked stunned.
"You did?"
Edward nodded.
"He laughed."
Then Edward revealed the truth he had hidden his entire life.
"Our father wasn't protecting the family."
"He was protecting Victoria."
Richard frowned.
Edward continued.
"Victoria's father secretly financed Ashford Global when the company was collapsing."
"In return..."
"...Father promised you would marry Victoria."
"The marriage wasn't about love."
"It was a business contract."
Richard felt sick.
"So everything..."
"Everything."
Edward lowered his head.
"I helped hide Sarah because Father promised that one day the company would become mine."
"But he lied to me too."
"He never intended to leave either of us anything."
Richard remained silent.
Then Edward slid a small key across the table.
"Victoria keeps everything."
"Bank accounts."
"Original contracts."
"The real evidence."
"In a private vault beneath the old Ashford Foundation building."
Richard picked up the key.
"Why tell me now?"
Edward closed his eyes.
"Because she never planned to let me live either."
At that exact moment, alarms sounded throughout police headquarters.
An officer rushed into the room.
"Sir!"
"The Ashford Foundation is on fire!"
Richard and Edward exchanged one horrified glance.
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Victoria had moved first.
Again.
