CHAPTER 7 – The One Person He Never Suspected
Every eye in the boardroom turned toward the same man.
Michael Reeves.
Ethan's trusted attorney.
The man who had spent the last six months helping him fight creditors, recover legal records, and protect Noah.
Michael slowly removed his glasses.
His expression didn't change.
Richard's final words echoed in the silent room.
"The person who destroyed your family... has been standing beside you since the very beginning."
Ethan shook his head.
"No..."
"Not Michael."
Michael sighed.
"I was hoping Richard would die before saying that."
The room froze.
Federal agents immediately aimed their weapons.
"Hands where we can see them!"
Instead of obeying, Michael calmly reached into his briefcase.
Everyone tensed.
But he didn't pull out a gun.
He pulled out an old black-and-white photograph.
The same photo Ethan had found inside Locker 317.
Only this copy had something written on the back.
Three names.
Daniel Carter.
Richard Halston.
Michael Reeves.
Ethan stared at the picture in disbelief.
"You knew my father?"
Michael smiled sadly.
"We were more than friends."
"We built the company together."
The boardroom fell silent.
"My father trusted you," Ethan whispered.
"He trusted both of us," Michael replied.
"When Richard stole Daniel's invention, I had a choice."
"I could expose him..."
"...or accept the money."
Ethan's chest tightened.
"You took the money."
Michael nodded slowly.
"I convinced myself it was the only way to survive."
"I told Richard where your father was hiding."
"I thought he'd only force Daniel to disappear."
His voice cracked for the first time.
"I never believed Richard would try to have him killed."
The old man—Daniel Carter—looked at Michael with eyes full of disappointment.
"I called you my brother."
Michael lowered his head.
"And I betrayed you."
Noah quietly stepped forward.
"Then why did you help us now?"
Michael looked at the little boy.
"Because every single day for twenty-five years..."
"I lived with what I had done."
He slowly placed another envelope on the conference table.
"I've been collecting evidence against Richard in secret."
"I knew one day Ethan would find the truth."
Inside the envelope were signed confessions, hidden bank records, and one final document.
A notarized statement.
Michael had transferred every dollar Richard ever paid him into a trust fund.
Not for himself...
But for Noah.
It was worth over $380 million.
Tears filled Ethan's eyes.
"You can't erase what you did."
"I know," Michael whispered.
"But maybe I can change what happens next."
Before anyone could respond—
A young FBI agent rushed into the room, holding a tablet.
"Sir... we've got a problem."
"The evidence from the flash drive just uncovered something even bigger."
He turned the screen toward Ethan.
A classified government contract appeared.
Stamped TOP SECRET.
The signature at the bottom wasn't Richard Halston's.
It belonged to someone far more powerful.
Someone who had never appeared in any of the evidence.
Someone who still hadn't been caught.
And beside the signature was a single title...
Secretary of Commerce of the United States.
Ethan realized Richard had only been the face of the conspiracy.
May you like
The real mastermind...
Was still free.
