Chapter 13 - By sunrise, Richard Cole was in custody.But Thomas was gone.
The police discovered he had accessed Arthur's company server three hours earlier.
Millions of dollars were moving between accounts.
Arthur watched the transactions.
“This isn't theft.”
The officer looked over.
“What?”
“He's transferring ownership.”
Arthur opened the company registry.
A new controlling entity had been filed overnight.
Beneficial owner:
THOMAS VALE FOUNDATION.
Arthur stared.
“He owns my company.”
Chloe, bruised but standing, shook her head.
“Not legally.”
“Why?”
“Because the trust still names you.”
Arthur looked at the document.
“But Thomas has the original.”
Emily approached.
“Daddy.”
Arthur knelt.
“What?”
She whispered,
“Uncle Thomas keeps the papers somewhere no one can find.”
“Where?”
“He told Mommy.”
Arthur turned toward Isabella.
She looked exhausted.
“Where?”
“I don't know.”
Emily shook her head.
“You do.”
Isabella looked at her.
“How?”
“You told me when you thought I was asleep.”
Arthur waited.
Isabella finally whispered:
“The old clock tower.”
Arthur frowned.
“The city clock tower?”
She nodded.
“There is a room inside it.”
Arthur remembered his father's obsession with clocks.
“The tower hasn't been used in years.”
Thomas had always known it.
They went there immediately.
At the top was a locked iron door.
Arthur opened it with the key from his father's box.
Inside was a table.
On it sat a single folder.
Arthur opened it.
Original trust.
Company charter.
Bank records.
And a handwritten letter from his father.
Arthur read:
If you're reading this, Thomas has already betrayed you.
He continued.
But do not trust Isabella completely.
Arthur stopped.
He looked at her.
She looked away.
The letter continued:
Isabella did not kill me.
Arthur froze.
“What?”
Chloe stepped closer.
Arthur kept reading.
The person who ordered my death was someone I never suspected.
Below that was a name.
Arthur's hands began to shake.
Lucy Vale.
He stared.
“No.”
Isabella whispered,
“I tried to tell you.”
Arthur looked at her.
“Why didn't you?”
“Because Lucy threatened Ethan.”
The letter continued.
Lucy believes I stole her life. She wants revenge, not money.
Arthur folded the paper.
“Then Thomas…”
A voice came from the doorway.
“Thomas is only a pawn.”
Everyone turned.
Lucy stood there.
Alive.
Older.
Calm.
Holding a small pistol.
Emily moved behind Arthur.
Lucy looked at her.
“You look just like your mother.”
Arthur stepped forward.
“You killed my father.”
“Yes.”
“You ordered Ethan's disappearance.”
“No.”
“You used Isabella.”
“Yes.”
Arthur's face hardened.
“Why?”
Lucy lowered the gun.
“Because Father took everything from me.”
“Your life?”
“My identity.”
She stared at Arthur.
“He told everyone I was dead.”
“You disappeared.”
“I was twelve.”
Arthur had no answer.
Lucy continued.
“I spent twenty years watching my family build wealth on top of my grave.”
Her voice shook.
“I wanted them to feel what I felt.”
Arthur said nothing.
“But then Ethan was born.”
Lucy smiled sadly.
“I couldn't hurt him.”
“Then who did?”
Lucy looked at Isabella.
“Thomas.”
“And Emily?”
“Richard.”
Arthur stared at her.
“So you weren't behind everything.”
“No.”
She smiled.
“Arthur, that's the problem.”
He frowned.
“What?”
“There was always someone worse.”
Lucy pointed toward the door.
“Thomas is coming.”
Heavy footsteps echoed outside.
Lucy looked at Arthur.
“Choose carefully.”
The door slammed open.
May you like
Thomas stepped inside with armed men.
And in his hand was a detonator.
