Chapter 5 - THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACKBy morning, Whitmore Holdings had lost nearly thirty percent of its market value.
Kyle's arrest wasn't public yet.
But investors had heard enough rumors.
Banks wanted answers.
Partners demanded audits.
The board was panicking.
Meanwhile, Nathan Whitmore disappeared again.
Mercer spent the night tracing the signal from the video.
No success.
Then at 7:13 a.m., every major financial channel began reporting the same headline.
WHITMORE HOLDINGS UNDER FEDERAL INVESTIGATION.
My father's face appeared on television.
Not as a victim.
As a suspect.
My heart dropped.
“Dad.”
He was already watching.
The report claimed Calder Dominion had manipulated Whitmore Holdings for years.
A series of fraudulent acquisitions had supposedly been orchestrated by my father.
It was a lie.
But it was beautifully manufactured.
Fake documents.
Fake signatures.
Fake transfers.
Everything pointed toward Calder.
Mercer entered the room.
“This is coordinated.”
My father nodded.
“They're moving faster than expected.”
“What do we do?” I asked.
He looked at me.
“We attack the source.”
“How?”
“Follow the money.”
Within an hour, Calder's forensic team identified three shell companies.
Then seven.
Then nineteen.
All linked to Northstar Capital.
But Northstar wasn't owned by Nathan.
It was owned by a trust.
Mercer opened the trust documents.
I stared at the beneficiary name.
Isabella Whitmore Calder.
My stomach dropped.
“That's me.”
“Yes.”
I looked at my father.
“You created this?”
He shook his head.
“No.”
“Then who did?”
Nobody answered.
The trust had been established fifteen years earlier.
When I was five.
Its purpose?
To transfer billions of dollars to me if Nathan Whitmore ever disappeared.
My father looked genuinely shocked.
“This trust should have been impossible.”
“Why?”
“Because someone used my private authentication key.”
I stared.
“Who had it?”
Only three people.
My father.
My mother.
Nathan Whitmore.
My father called security.
Then another alert appeared.
KYLE WHITMORE RELEASED.
I stared at the screen.
“What?”
Mercer checked his phone.
“He posted bail.”
“How?”
“Someone paid it.”
“Who?”
He showed me the payment authorization.
Northstar Capital.
I felt cold.
Kyle walked into the courthouse smiling.
He addressed the cameras.
“This entire investigation is a personal attack orchestrated by Victor Calder.”
My father watched in silence.
Then Kyle said something that made my blood run cold.
“My wife Isabella is not a Calder.”
He paused.
“She is a Whitmore.”
The cameras erupted.
Questions flew.
“Are you saying Isabella is related to you?”
Kyle smiled.
“You'll learn the truth soon.”
My father turned off the television.
I stood frozen.
“How did Kyle know?”
My father didn't answer.
Mercer suddenly said:
“He's not the only one who knows.”
My phone buzzed.
A text from Thalia.
Come to the old Whitmore estate if you want your mother alive.
I showed it to my father.
His expression changed.
“Don't go.”
“She has my mother.”
“We don't know that.”
“She knows where she is.”
My father grabbed his coat.
“We go together.”
Mercer shook his head.
“No.”
My father turned.
“Why?”
“We think that's exactly what they want.”
I stepped closer.
“What choice do I have?”
Mercer looked at me.
“You have one.”
He placed a small device in my hand.
“A tracker.”
“Where am I supposed to put it?”
“On Thalia.”
My father frowned.
“She won't let you close.”
I smiled.
“She will.”
“Why?”
I looked at the message again.
“Because she thinks I am still afraid of her.”
Two hours later, I arrived at the abandoned Whitmore estate.
The gates were open.
The house stood dark against the evening sky.
Thalia waited on the porch.
Alone.
She smiled when she saw me.
“Isabella.”
I stepped out of the car.
“Where is my mother?”
Thalia's smile widened.
“Inside.”
I walked toward her.
“Take me to her.”
“You really think you can order me around?”
“No.”
I stopped.
“I think you want something.”
Her expression shifted.
“What?”
“You didn't send that message because you suddenly became brave.”
Silence.
“You need protection.”
Thalia stared at me.
Then whispered:
“You don't know what Nathan will do.”
I took another step.
“You're afraid of him.”
Her face went pale.
Suddenly a gunshot echoed from inside the house.
Thalia screamed.
I froze.
Then the front doors opened.
Kyle stepped out.
Blood covered his shirt.
He looked directly at me.
And whispered:
May you like
“Don't trust Thalia.”
Then he collapsed.
