Chapter 5 – The Funeral That Was Never Meant to Happen
The words echoed through the hidden office.
"I'm your uncle."
Evelyn stared at the old man, unable to breathe.
"My father... had a brother?"
He nodded.
"My name is Samuel Carter."
"They erased me long before they erased your father."
Forty years earlier, Samuel had been forced to disappear after refusing to sign away the family's company. While Richard Carter was imprisoned under a false identity, Samuel spent decades searching for proof that would one day free his brother's name.
"I failed to save him," Samuel whispered.
"But I promised I would save you."
Before Evelyn could respond, a phone rang.
It belonged to Victoria.
One of the security officers answered.
His face immediately turned pale.
"What is it?" Evelyn asked.
"The Carter family cemetery..."
"...someone is digging up your father's grave."
Everyone rushed to the cemetery.
Rain poured from the dark sky.
By the time they arrived, the grave had already been opened.
The coffin sat beside the hole.
The lid had been broken open.
Inside...
There was no body.
Only a folded black suit...
...and another yellow envelope.
Evelyn's knees buckled.
"No..."
"This can't be happening."
She opened the envelope with trembling hands.
Inside was a single handwritten sentence.
"If you're reading this... they're already hunting you too."
At that exact moment...
A sniper's laser appeared on Samuel's chest.
"Evelyn!"
He shoved her aside.
BANG!
The gunshot echoed across the cemetery.
Samuel collapsed into the mud.
The assassin disappeared into the darkness before anyone could react.
As Evelyn held her bleeding uncle, Samuel forced one last sentence through clenched teeth.
"Don't trust..."
May you like
He coughed blood.
"...the Board."
