Chapter 6 - Michael's Last Plan
Michael had known he was going to die.
That was the first revelation inside the box.
The second was worse.
He had planned everything.
The flash drive.
The photograph.
The fake accounts.
The clues.
The reason Lena entered Adrian's world.
Michael had wanted Adrian and Lena to become allies long before either of them knew it.
Inside the box was a letter.
My brother,
If you're reading this, then I failed to stay alive.
Adrian swallowed.
Michael continued.
I know you'll blame yourself.
Don't.
You didn't kill me.
The man who did is someone you trust.
Adrian looked at Marcus.
The letter went on.
Lena is not the enemy.
She is the person who can destroy the network.
Protect her.
Adrian read silently.
Then one final paragraph.
But don't mistake protection for possession.
She doesn't need another man telling her what to do.
She needs someone willing to stand beside her.
Adrian closed the letter.
Lena looked at him.
“He knew.”
“Yes.”
“What?”
“That I would try to control everything.”
She smiled sadly.
“He was right.”
Adrian laughed once.
“He usually was.”
Marcus remained quiet.
Adrian looked at him.
“Why did you help Eleanor?”
Marcus lowered his head.
“She had my daughter.”
“What?”
“She threatened to kill her.”
“And Michael?”
“I was supposed to scare him.”
“But he died.”
“I didn't pull the trigger.”
“Who did?”
Marcus looked toward the grave.
“Richard.”
Lena's stomach dropped.
“He killed Michael.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Michael was going to expose the truth.”
Adrian stared.
“Where is Richard?”
“Eleanor knows.”
“Where?”
Marcus hesitated.
“Your father's old estate.”
Adrian turned.
The old Voss estate had been abandoned for ten years.
They went there that night.
Inside, everything looked frozen in time.
Family portraits.
Dust.
Old furniture.
Adrian entered his father's study.
A familiar smell of tobacco lingered.
Lena stayed beside him.
On the desk sat a file.
Michael had marked it.
Inside was the original ownership agreement.
Lena's family had indeed owned the company.
But another document changed everything.
Adrian's father had voluntarily transferred control to Lena's grandfather.
Eleanor had forged the later documents.
She had stolen the company.
The empire was built on fraud.
Lena sat down.
“My family should have had this.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't anyone tell me?”
“Because everyone who knew was threatened.”
“What about Michael?”
“He tried to fix it.”
“And you?”
“I didn't know.”
Lena looked at him.
“You keep saying that.”
“Because it's true.”
She touched his hand.
“Then maybe ignorance isn't the worst thing.”
“What is?”
“Refusing to learn.”
He stared at her.
“You make everything sound simple.”
“No.”
She smiled.
“I just know what it feels like when people refuse to believe you.”
He understood.
Then they heard a floorboard.
Adrian drew his weapon.
Richard stepped from the hallway.
He looked exhausted.
He lowered his gun.
“I don't want to fight you.”
Adrian stared.
“Then talk.”
Richard did.
He admitted everything.
Eleanor had manipulated him for years.
She promised him a place in the company.
She threatened his family.
He helped with the accounts.
He planted evidence against Lena.
He lied about Michael.
But when Michael discovered the truth, Richard tried to stop Eleanor.
It was too late.
Richard confessed to being present when Michael was killed.
He didn't pull the trigger.
But he didn't stop it.
That was enough.
Adrian looked at him.
“You were my brother.”
Richard's eyes filled.
“I still am.”
“No.”
Adrian's voice broke.
“You stopped being my brother the night you watched him die.”
Richard nodded.
“I know.”
Police arrived.
Richard surrendered.
The next morning, Eleanor was arrested at the airport.
Marcus cooperated.
The network began collapsing.
But one secret remained.
Adrian opened Michael's final file.
Inside was a medical report.
It showed that Michael had not died immediately.
He had survived for fourteen minutes after being shot.
Long enough to call someone.
The recipient was Lena.
She had missed the call.
Adrian stared.
She didn't know.
Michael had tried to reach her.
He had wanted to tell her something.
Adrian looked at the transcript.
One line remained.
Ask Lena about the baby.
He looked at Lena.
“The baby?”
She froze.
May you like
Then whispered:
“I was pregnant.”
