CHAPTER 7 — THE GRANDFATHER'S GREATEST LIE
Malcolm Vale had never lied to Elena.
At least...
That was what she believed.
Until she secretly ordered a forensic audit of every company acquired over the past forty years.
The numbers didn't make sense.
Entire corporations had disappeared from official history.
Billions of dollars had been moved through charities that no longer existed.
Then she discovered one impossible document.
A birth certificate.
Father:
Malcolm Edward Vale.
Mother:
Unknown.
Child:
Victor Harlan.
Her hands froze.
Victor...
Her abusive father-in-law...
Was Malcolm's illegitimate son.
Everything suddenly made sense.
Victor hadn't married Elena because of love.
He had married her because he believed she had stolen the inheritance that should have been his.
When Elena confronted Malcolm, the old billionaire remained silent for a long time.
Finally he whispered,
"I abandoned him before his first birthday."
"I thought money could erase my mistakes."
"It only made them grow."
Tears filled Malcolm's eyes for the first time in decades.
"I created the monster who almost destroyed you."
Before Elena could answer...
A sniper's bullet shattered the library window.
Malcolm pushed her aside.
The bullet struck his shoulder.
Outside, the assassin vanished into the darkness.
But on the floor...
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Investigators found a silver coin engraved with a single symbol.
A black crown.
