Chapter 8: The Person Behind The Betrayal
I read the name three times.
My mind refused to accept it.
Samuel Price.
My father’s attorney.
The man who had guided me through the inheritance.
The man who had stood beside me.
The man who had told me my father wanted to protect me.
“No.””
The word left my mouth before I realized I had spoken.
Caleb looked at me.
“What?””
I handed him the paper.
His face changed.
“What is this?””
Vivian stepped closer.
“What does it say?””
I pulled the letter back.
“You already know enough.””
Her expression became defensive.
“I don’t.””
But I didn’t believe her.
Not completely.
Because Dad’s warning was clear.
Someone else was involved.
Someone closer than we knew.
My phone rang.
Samuel.
Everyone looked at it.
Nobody moved.
Finally, I answered.
“Hello?””
“Hannah,” Samuel said.
“I’ve been trying to reach you.””
“You found something.””
Silence.
That silence told me everything.
“What did you find?””
“Hannah, where are you?””
“At home.””
Another pause.
“Are you alone?””
I looked at Caleb.
Then Vivian.
“No.””
His voice changed.
“Who is there?””
“Why?””
“Hannah, listen carefully. Do not open any more documents until I arrive.””
My eyes moved toward the table.
The evidence.
The recordings.
The letters.
“Why?””
“Because some of those files may not be what they appear to be.””
I stood.
“What does that mean?””
Samuel lowered his voice.
“It means someone has been altering records.””
The room became silent.
I looked at Vivian.
Then Caleb.
“Are you saying my father’s files were changed?””
“Yes.””
“By who?””
“I don’t know yet.””
But he sounded like he knew more than he admitted.
“Samuel.””
“Yes?””
“Did you know Dad was investigating you?””
A long pause.
Too long.
Then:
“Hannah, who told you that?””
I felt my stomach drop.
Not because of the answer.
Because of the reaction.
“You didn’t answer.””
He sighed.
“Your father had concerns about everyone.””
“That’s not what I asked.””
Silence.
Then Samuel said:
“Meet me tomorrow.””
“No.””
“Hannah.””
“No.””
My voice became stronger.
“I want answers now.””
Another pause.
Then he said something that froze me.
“Your father didn’t create Harrison Tower for you.””
I gripped the phone.
“What?””
“He created it to protect something.””
“What?””
“I can’t explain over the phone.””
“Try.””
He didn’t.
Instead, he whispered:
“Check the foundation records.””
The call ended.
I stared at the phone.
Caleb looked at me.
“What did he say?””
I didn’t answer immediately.
Because suddenly everything connected.
The inheritance.
The tower.
The hidden room.
The missing money.
Dad wasn’t only protecting his fortune.
He was protecting something hidden inside his empire.
I grabbed my coat.
“I’m going to Harrison Tower.””
Caleb stood.
“I’m coming.””
Vivian immediately said:
“No.””
We both looked at her.
She realized her mistake.
I stepped closer.
“Why don’t you want us there?””
“I don’t care.””
“You do.””
She looked away.
And that was enough.
An hour later, Caleb and I stood outside Harrison Tower in Manhattan.
The building stretched above us.
Forty-two floors of glass and steel.
My father’s secret.
My inheritance.
My unanswered questions.
Inside the lobby, the security guard looked at me.
“Can I help you?””
I reached into my bag and showed him the trust documents.
“My name is Hannah Pierce.””
The guard’s expression changed.
He checked the papers.
Then looked at me strangely.
“Miss Pierce?””
“Yes.””
He hesitated.
“There’s something you should know.””
My heart tightened.
“What?””
He looked toward the elevators.
“Your father left instructions.””
“For me?””
He nodded.
“He said if you ever came here after his death…”
The elevator doors opened behind him.
The guard stepped aside.
“You were supposed to go straight to the forty-second floor.””
Caleb looked at me.
“Why?””
I stared at the empty elevator.
Because I knew.
Whatever my father had hidden here was the reason he had kept everything secret.
The elevator doors started closing.
Then the guard added:
“One more thing.””
I looked back.
“What?””
He swallowed.
“Your father said you wouldn’t be coming alone.””
I froze.
May you like
Because nobody knew Caleb was with me.
Nobody except—
