Chapter 5 – The Vault Was Empty… But One Envelope Remained
Harold’s laughter echoed through the luxury showroom.
“The vault was emptied last night.”
For several seconds, no one moved.
Richard’s face turned ashen.
“What did you just say?”
Harold straightened his expensive suit, the panic in his eyes replaced by smug confidence.
“You heard me.”
“The original trust.”
“The ownership certificates.”
“The founder’s private journals.”
“They’re gone.”
Vanessa looked at Harold in complete disbelief.
“You… you stole them?”
Harold smiled.
“I protected this company.”
Eleanor slowly closed her eyes.
“So it was you all along.”
Richard grabbed Harold by the collar.
“You betrayed my father?”
Harold laughed again.
“Your father?”
“No.”
“I betrayed everyone.”
He pushed Richard away.
“For thirty years I built Sterling Crown while your family drowned in secrets.”
“You think I was going to let a forgotten daughter take everything?”
Security surrounded Harold, but he raised one finger.
“Careful.”
“If I disappear…”
“So do the documents.”
Richard froze.
“You made copies?”
Harold shook his head.
“No.”
“I burned the originals.”
The room exploded with shocked voices.
Amelia’s knees almost gave way.
“So… there’s no proof?”
Harold smiled cruelly.
“Exactly.”
“You own nothing.”
“You’re nobody.”
Tears filled Eleanor’s eyes for the first time.
Thirty years.
Gone.
Just then…
A soft voice interrupted the silence.
“You forgot one thing.”
Everyone turned.
It was the elderly janitor who had quietly cleaned the boutique for over twenty years.
No one even knew his name.
He slowly walked toward Eleanor.
“You asked me to keep this safe.”
From inside his old lunchbox…
He removed a sealed envelope wrapped in faded blue cloth.
Harold’s smile disappeared instantly.
“No…”
“That’s impossible.”
The janitor handed it to Eleanor.
“You told me never to open it.”
“I never did.”
Eleanor carefully unfolded the cloth.
Inside lay a handwritten letter.
Richard recognized the handwriting immediately.
His father’s.
At the bottom…
A wax seal remained perfectly intact.
The date made everyone's blood run cold.
May you like
It had been written…
Six hours before Richard Sterling Sr. died.
