CHAPTER 5 — The Billion-Dollar Lie
The entire train station watched as Ethan was handcuffed.
Reporters rushed forward.
Passengers applauded.
Everyone believed the nightmare was over.
But as officers pushed Ethan into the police vehicle, he smiled.
Not the smile of a defeated man.
The smile of someone who still held one final card.
He turned toward Sophie and whispered,
"You think you've won?"
"You still don't know who hired me."
Sophie's heart skipped a beat.
Before she could ask another question, Ethan was driven away.
The next morning, Sophie was escorted to her grandfather's private law office to finalize the inheritance.
The attorney unlocked a steel vault and placed a sealed envelope on the table.
"This was only to be opened if someone attempted to murder you."
Sophie's hands trembled as she broke the wax seal.
Inside was a handwritten letter.
My dearest Sophie...
If you're reading this, then I was right.
Ethan was never the real danger.
Her breathing stopped.
The attorney looked away in silence.
The letter continued.
Someone inside our own family paid him to marry you.
Someone who has wanted our fortune for more than twenty years.
Attached to the letter was a faded photograph.
Sophie stared at it.
Standing beside her grandfather...
...was a woman she recognized instantly.
Her own mother.
Across the back of the photo, in her grandfather's handwriting, were six chilling words:
"Never let Eleanor control everything."
Sophie dropped the photograph.
"No..."
"My mother wouldn't..."
The attorney slowly closed the file.
"I'm afraid..."
"Mrs. Eleanor Morgan requested this meeting."
The office door opened.
Her mother walked inside.
May you like
Dressed in black.
Smiling.
