Chapter 11 - The Man Who Was Supposed to Be DeadMarcus Vale looked directly into the camera.

"Hello, Ava."

I played the video twice.

Then a third time.

Bianca sat across from me, trembling.

"He was real."

"Yes."

"Mom knew."

"Yes."

"How long?"

Bianca shook her head.

"I don't know."

I stopped the video.

"Why would my mother meet a supposedly dead man?"

"Because he's not dead."

"Obviously."

She looked at me.

"There's more."

"Say it."

"Marcus and Dad hate each other."

"Why?"

"When they were young, Marcus built a financial network."

"Northbridge."

"Yes."

"He disappeared after a lawsuit."

"Everyone thought he died."

"But he didn't."

"No."

I leaned back.

"What does he want?"

"Control."

"Of what?"

Bianca looked terrified.

"Of ValeCore."

I almost smiled.

"That seems to be everyone's favorite hobby."

She didn't laugh.

"He has investors."

"How many?"

"Enough."

"Then why hide?"

"He didn't want the company."

I frowned.

"What?"

"Not at first."

"Then what?"

"He wanted you."

I went still.

"Me?"

"Your father told him that if ValeCore succeeded, you would become impossible to control."

I stared at the screen.

Marcus's voice still seemed to echo in the room.

Your sister has been very cooperative.

I asked Bianca:

"What happens now?"

She looked at me.

"Mom is with him."

I stood.

"Where?"

"I don't know."

"Find out."

"I don't have access."

I grabbed my phone.

"Then I'll find it."

Mara entered the room.

"We found the location."

I turned.

"Where?"

"Private airfield."

"When?"

"An hour ago."

"Who is there?"

"Your mother."

"My father?"

"Not yet."

"Marcus?"

"Yes."

We left immediately.

The airfield was nearly empty.

One plane waited on the runway.

My mother stood beside it.

Marcus stood opposite her.

A man in a dark suit held a briefcase.

I stepped onto the tarmac.

"Mom."

She turned.

Her face collapsed.

"Ava."

Marcus smiled.

"So the daughter finally arrives."

I stopped several meters away.

"You're Northbridge."

"Among other things."

"You stole from me."

He smiled.

"No."

He pointed at my mother.

"She did."

Mom started crying.

"Marcus, please."

He ignored her.

"Ava, you misunderstand the arrangement."

"What arrangement?"

"Your father and your mother built ValeCore's protective structure."

"So?"

"You inherited it."

"Then why are you here?"

"Because they made one final mistake."

He opened the briefcase.

Inside was a stack of papers.

"The company is vulnerable."

I looked at them.

Acquisition documents.

Board resolutions.

Share transfers.

"These are fake."

"Some."

I looked closer.

My name was on one document.

My ownership had been diluted.

"How much?"

Marcus smiled.

"Twenty-eight percent."

My stomach tightened.

"You forged my signature."

"No."

He shook his head.

"Your mother did."

I turned toward her.

She collapsed against the car.

"I had no choice."

I stared.

Then Marcus said:

"You've been fighting the wrong war, Ava."

"What do you want?"

"Nothing."

He smiled.

"Your father wants your company."

"My father?"

"Yes."

I looked behind him.

A black sedan approached.

The door opened.

My father stepped out.

He looked at Marcus.

Then at me.

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And said:

"I was hoping you'd never find this place."