Chapter 8 - Victor's Offer
Victor did not attack.
He simply sat down.
That frightened Carter more.
“You're supposed to be running.”
Victor smiled.
“From whom?”
Carter stared at him.
“You've been inside my house.”
“Yes.”
“You threatened my mother.”
“No.”
“You worked with Chloe.”
“Yes.”
“You manipulated my family.”
Victor leaned back.
“I exposed what your family was already hiding.”
Carter clenched his fists.
“What do you want?”
“The same thing your father wanted.”
“And what was that?”
“The truth.”
Victor placed a folder on the desk.
Carter opened it.
Inside were corporate records.
Bank transfers.
Property deeds.
Old photographs.
Everything connected.
Except one page.
It had been removed.
Carter looked up.
“Where's the missing page?”
Victor smiled.
“You're not ready.”
Carter stood.
“Stop playing games.”
Victor's expression hardened.
“You think Chloe is the villain.”
“She nearly destroyed my mother.”
“She did terrible things.”
Carter's eyes narrowed.
“But?”
“But she was trying to survive.”
Carter said nothing.
Victor continued.
“Your uncle is alive.”
“I know.”
“Rebecca is alive.”
“I know.”
“Your father left behind a second company.”
Carter froze.
“What?”
Victor leaned forward.
“And that company owns everything you believe belongs to your family.”
Carter stared.
Victor slid one final photograph across the desk.
It showed Carter's father entering a building.
Beside him was Rebecca.
And behind them was a young man.
Carter recognized him.
His uncle.
But the photograph was dated two years after his uncle's supposed death.
Carter looked up.
“Why show me this?”
Victor stood.
“Because tonight, someone will come for the original records.”
“Who?”
Victor smiled.
“That's the question.”
He walked toward the door.
Carter grabbed his arm.
“You're not leaving.”
Victor looked at his hand.
Then at Carter.
“You should be more worried about the person waiting for you at home.”
Carter released him.
He drove back immediately.
The mansion looked peaceful.
Too peaceful.
The front door was open.
Carter entered.
“Mom?”
No answer.
“Maya?”
Silence.
He ran upstairs.
Eleanor's room was empty.
Her wheelchair was gone.
Carter's phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
A voice whispered:
“You were warned.”
Then the call ended.
On the floor outside Eleanor's room was a single photograph.
It showed Carter's father.
May you like
On the back were four words.
SHE KNOWS WHERE HE IS.
