Chapter 5 - The Brother Who Came Back From the DeadRobert found Thomas outside the hospital.
"You were here."
Thomas turned.
"I came to warn you."
"You attacked the hospital."
"What?"
"I saw you."
Thomas shook his head.
"I wasn't the shooter."
"Then why were you there?"
"Because I know who's coming."
"Who?"
"Victor Cross."
Robert stared.
"The attorney?"
"He's not just an attorney."
Thomas looked at the hospital.
"He's the one who controls Northstar."
Robert shook his head.
"I don't understand."
"Victor has been manipulating the family for years."
"Why?"
"Because Dad owed him."
"Owed him what?"
Thomas laughed bitterly.
"Everything."
He explained.
Their father had built Ellington Industries with Victor's financial backing decades earlier.
When Robert's father died, Victor expected control.
Robert refused.
Victor began sabotaging the company from within.
Daniel discovered the fraud.
He was killed.
Thomas had tried to expose it.
He was forced into hiding.
Robert stared.
"You let me think you abandoned the family."
"I was trying to survive."
"What about Daniel?"
"I tried to protect him."
"But he died."
Thomas looked down.
"I know."
Robert's anger softened.
For the first time, he saw his brother as another victim.
Then Marcus arrived.
"Sir."
"What?"
"Victor Cross is missing."
"Where?"
"We found his car."
"Where?"
"Outside the cemetery."
Robert frowned.
"The cemetery?"
"The Ellington family plot."
Robert drove there.
Rain began falling.
The cemetery was empty.
Except for one grave.
Daniel Reyes.
Someone had dug it open.
Robert stopped breathing.
"Why would someone dig up Daniel?"
Thomas looked at the grave.
"To find the evidence."
Robert realized.
The black notebook wasn't enough.
Daniel had hidden something else.
They searched the grave.
Nothing.
Then Sam spoke.
"Maybe Dad told me."
Robert turned.
"What?"
Sam pointed at the headstone.
"There."
A small metal box was hidden beneath the base.
Inside was a key.
And a note.
Robert unfolded it.
The words were simple.
THE TRUTH IS IN ROOM 17.
Thomas looked at him.
"Where?"
Robert knew.
An old office building owned by Ellington Industries.
Room 17.
They drove there.
Inside, the room had been abandoned for years.
Dust everywhere.
Robert found a safe.
The key opened it.
Inside were documents.
Photographs.
And a video drive.
They watched.
Daniel appeared on screen.
He looked exhausted.
If you're watching this, I'm dead.
Robert closed his eyes.
Daniel continued.
Victor Cross is not working alone.
The person helping him is—
The screen went black.
Robert stared.
"Who?"
Thomas looked at him.
"Maybe someone destroyed the rest."
Sam pointed to the laptop.
"Play it again."
They did.
This time, Robert noticed a reflection in the window behind Daniel.
A woman.
Blonde hair.
Elegant suit.
Elizabeth.
Robert's face drained.
"No."
Thomas stared.
"That's your wife."
Robert shook his head.
"She was there."
The video stopped.
They returned to the mansion.
Robert confronted Elizabeth.
"You were there."
She stared.
"Where?"
"Room 17."
Her face went white.
"I went because Daniel asked me to."
"What did he want?"
"Protection."
"From Victor?"
"Yes."
"Then why didn't you tell me?"
"Because Daniel said someone close to you was working for Victor."
Robert's voice broke.
"Who?"
Elizabeth cried.
"I don't know."
"You know something."
"I know there was a meeting."
"With whom?"
She closed her eyes.
"Your mother."
Robert froze.
His mother had been dead for twelve years.
Elizabeth whispered:
"Not your biological mother."
Silence.
Robert stared at her.
"What are you talking about?"
Then a voice came from the doorway.
"I am."
Everyone turned.
An elderly woman stood there.
Robert stared.
His father's former secretary.
Evelyn.
A woman he had believed dead for years.
May you like
She smiled.
"Hello, Robert."
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