CHAPTER 7 – The Man Richard Warned Them About
Daniel slowly turned around.
Standing only a few feet behind him was the family's longtime attorney, Charles Bennett.
He was smiling.
Too calmly.
Too confidently.
"You've done well," Charles said, applauding softly. "Far better than I expected."
Daniel instinctively stepped in front of Evelyn.
"What did my father mean?"
Charles sighed.
"I suppose Richard couldn't stop doubting me until the very end."
Before anyone could react, two black SUVs rolled through the mansion gates.
Half a dozen armed security guards stepped out.
Not police.
Private contractors.
Charles reached into his jacket and calmly removed another folder.
"The Whitmore Foundation controls billions."
"But there's one problem."
He smiled.
"Those transfer documents require my signature to become legally effective."
Evelyn's heart sank.
"What are you talking about?"
Charles chuckled.
"For thirty years, I've managed every legal detail of this empire."
"You think Richard trusted a housekeeper with billions..."
"...without giving me a way to stop it?"
Daniel lunged toward him.
"You've been manipulating this family for years!"
Charles didn't deny it.
"I helped Richard build this empire."
"I also helped hide you."
The words hit Daniel like a punch.
"You... knew I existed?"
Charles nodded.
"I knew the day you were born."
"And I made sure no one ever found you."
Evelyn stared at him in horror.
"You destroyed our lives."
"No," Charles replied coldly.
"I protected an empire."
Then he revealed the truth no one expected.
Richard hadn't died naturally.
Three months before his death...
He had quietly hired private investigators because he believed someone was poisoning him.
The investigators disappeared.
Every single one.
Daniel's blood ran cold.
"You killed my father."
Charles smiled.
"Prove it."
Just then...
The mansion lights suddenly went out.
Darkness swallowed the room.
A loud metallic click echoed from somewhere upstairs.
May you like
Someone else...
Had entered the mansion.
