Chapter 9: The Enemy Inside the Family
Ethan drove back to Chicago without turning on the radio.
He needed silence.
Because the name Victor gave him kept repeating in his mind.
Margaret Ellis.
His finance director.
The person who had sat beside him during meetings.
The person who had helped rebuild the company after Sarah died.
The person who had cried at Sarah's funeral.
Margaret.
Ethan refused to believe it.
Not because she was innocent.
Because believing it meant accepting that almost everyone he trusted had betrayed him.
When he arrived at the hotel, Richard was waiting.
"You look like you found something.""
Ethan didn't answer immediately.
Then he said:
"Margaret.""
Richard froze.
"No.""
"Victor said she was involved.""
Richard shook his head.
"That can't be right.""
"Why?""
"Because Margaret was the one who helped expose financial issues years ago.""
Ethan looked at him.
"Was she?""
Richard went quiet.
The question itself created doubt.
Ethan did not confront Margaret immediately.
He had learned something from Thomas and Victor.
People revealed more when they thought they were safe.
So he watched.
And what he saw disturbed him.
Margaret avoided certain questions.
She became nervous whenever old records were mentioned.
And most importantly...
She knew details Ethan had never shared.
Details about Victor.
Details about the investigation.
Details about Claire.
That night, Ethan found her alone in the finance office.
"Working late?""
Margaret turned.
"Ethan.""
Her smile looked forced.
"Always.""
He stepped inside.
"I need to ask you something.""
"Of course.""
"Did you know Victor was involved in financial fraud?""
The color left her face.
Only for a second.
But Ethan saw it.
"Why would you ask me that?""
"Answer the question.""
Margaret looked away.
"I suspected.""
"Suspected?""
"Yes.""
"And you didn't tell me?""
She became defensive.
"You were dealing with Sarah's illness.""
Ethan stared.
"So you decided for me?""
"No.""
"Then what did you do?""
Silence.
That silence was the answer.
The next morning, Ethan discovered the final piece.
A hidden account.
Not under Victor.
Not under Thomas.
Under Margaret's name.
The amount wasn't millions.
It was worse.
It was a payment history.
Small payments.
Regular payments.
For years.
Someone had been paying her.
Ethan stared at the records.
Then his phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
A man's voice spoke.
"Mr. Vance.""
"Who is this?""
"You don't know me.""
"Then why are you calling?""
"Because you're investigating the wrong people.""
Ethan stood.
"What does that mean?""
The man laughed quietly.
"It means Victor wasn't the mastermind.""
Ethan's expression hardened.
"Who are you?""
The caller ignored the question.
"You think the people around you betrayed you because they were greedy.""
A pause.
"They betrayed you because someone convinced them you deserved it.""
Ethan felt a chill.
"Who?""
The line went silent.
Then one final sentence.
"The same person who knew Sarah's condition before anyone else.""
The call ended.
Ethan stood completely still.
Because suddenly the investigation had become something else.
Someone had not just stolen from him.
Someone had carefully built a plan around his grief.
Around his trust.
Around the woman he loved.
And now Ethan had to uncover the darkest truth of all.
May you like
Who had been waiting for Sarah to disappear...
so they could take everything Ethan built?
