Chapter 3 - The Billionaire Uncle Who Wanted a Child to Stay DeadEthan Cooper entered the house smiling.
He was sixty-one.
Elegant.
Calm.
Dressed in a tailored black coat.
Behind him stood two lawyers.
No guns.
No obvious threat.
That made him more dangerous.
“Jack.”
Jack stood between Ethan and Lena.
“You.”
Ethan sighed.
“I came to talk.”
“You sent men after my daughter.”
“I sent men to protect an asset.”
Jack's fist tightened.
“She's a child.”
Ethan looked past him.
“She's an heir.”
“To what?”
“The Cooper family trust.”
Jack stared.
“What?”
Ethan smiled.
“Now you're asking the right question.”
He explained.
Jack's grandfather had created an offshore trust decades ago.
It held assets worth billions.
Control passed through descendants.
But the trust contained one unusual clause.
The youngest surviving direct descendant would become the controlling beneficiary if evidence of criminal activity by a trustee were discovered.
Callie was that descendant.
Samantha had found the evidence.
That was why they disappeared.
Jack's grandfather had wanted the trust hidden.
Ethan wanted it controlled.
And Samantha had been the obstacle.
“You killed them.”
Ethan's expression darkened.
“No.”
“You tried.”
“I tried to contain the situation.”
“Where is Samantha?”
Ethan smiled.
“Alive.”
Jack's breath caught.
“Where?”
“Safe.”
“Where?”
“You don't get to demand answers.”
Jack stepped forward.
“You took my wife.”
“She knows too much.”
“Where is she?”
Ethan nodded toward Lena.
“Give me the child, and you'll see your wife again.”
Jack laughed.
“You think I'm trading my daughter?”
Ethan shrugged.
“You've been doing it for three years.”
The sentence hit harder than a punch.
“What does that mean?”
“You were supposed to stay grieving.”
“I did.”
“Yes.”
“That was your plan?”
“Yes.”
“You destroyed my life.”
Ethan's expression remained calm.
“I preserved the family's.”
Jack looked at Lena.
The little girl was standing beside Marissa.
She looked frightened.
But she wasn't crying.
Ethan noticed.
“She's resilient.”
Jack hated him.
“What do you want?”
“Her signature when she turns eighteen.”
“She can't sign anything.”
“Exactly.”
“So why do you need her?”
“Because she is the legal beneficiary.”
Jack suddenly understood.
Ethan couldn't access the trust without her.
He intended to manipulate her.
Control her.
Possibly eliminate her once he had what he wanted.
“No.”
Ethan sighed.
“Then Samantha dies.”
Jack froze.
Marissa stepped forward.
“He's lying.”
Ethan looked at her.
“You were always too loyal.”
Then the lights went out.
A gunshot sounded.
Chaos erupted.
Jack grabbed Lena.
Marissa pulled a hidden firearm.
One of Ethan's lawyers screamed.
Someone crashed through a window.
Jack ran.
They escaped through the back door.
Snow covered the ground.
A helicopter could be heard overhead.
Jack looked at Marissa.
“Who is helping us?”
She shook her head.
“I don't know.”
A black vehicle stopped beside them.
A man leaned out.
“Get in!”
Jack hesitated.
“Who are you?”
“Someone who wants Ethan exposed.”
They got inside.
As the vehicle sped away, the man handed Jack a file.
“This belongs to your wife.”
Jack opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
Samantha.
Alive.
And beneath it was a location.
Northbridge Medical Facility.
Jack looked up.
“She's there.”
The man nodded.
“But there's one problem.”
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“What?”
“Ethan knows you're going.”
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