Chapter 6: The Enemy Inside the Walls
Ethan had spent his entire career understanding risk.
A business could fail because of bad timing.
A deal could collapse because of greed.
A company could disappear because leaders refused to adapt.
But personal threats were different.
They were unpredictable.
Emotional.
Dangerous.
And now someone was warning him to stop searching for answers about his own wife.
Ethan sat in his office, staring at the anonymous message.
He read it again.
Then again.
Stop investigating the Grand Regent.
Or you will lose more than a hotel.
Most people would have felt fear.
Ethan felt something else.
Certainty.
Because fear meant the enemy had power.
But certainty meant the enemy had revealed themselves.
Someone was watching.
Someone was worried.
And that meant Ethan was getting close.
His phone rang.
Lily.
He answered immediately.
"Hey, princess.""
"Daddy?""
"Yes?""
"Are we going home soon?""
Ethan smiled.
"Do you want to leave Chicago?""
"No.""
A small pause.
"I like the hotel.""
"Why?""
"Because Lupita gave me hot chocolate.""
Ethan laughed softly.
"That's a pretty good reason.""
"And because Mommy liked it.""
The smile disappeared from his face.
"Who told you that?""
"I heard you talking.""
Ethan sat quietly.
Children heard more than adults realized.
"Mommy loved this place?""
"Yes.""
"Then we should help it.""
His heart tightened.
"What do you mean?""
Lily hugged her stuffed rabbit.
"Mommy always said helping people was important.""
Ethan looked down.
Even after three years.
Sarah's kindness was still teaching their daughter.
The next morning, Ethan requested every security recording from the past month.
Marcus asked why.
"Because whoever sent that message knows what I'm doing.""
"You think someone inside the company?""
"I think someone inside the hotel.""
They reviewed hours of footage.
Employees.
Managers.
Guests.
Nothing.
Until Marcus stopped the video.
"Wait.""
On the screen was a man entering the hotel.
Late at night.
Not a guest.
Not an employee.
But someone with access.
Ethan leaned closer.
"Who is that?""
Marcus zoomed in.
Then his face changed.
"No...""
"What?""
Marcus looked terrified.
"I know him.""
"Who?""
Marcus swallowed.
"Victor Blackwell.""
Ethan's expression hardened.
The name from Sarah's documents.
The man who tried to destroy Daniel Whitmore.
The man who wanted the Grand Regent.
"What is he doing here?""
Marcus didn't answer.
Because both men already knew.
The question wasn't why Victor was there.
The question was how long he had been there.
Ethan immediately ordered a full investigation.
But before the results came back, something happened.
Something that shocked everyone.
A news article appeared online.
"Grand Regent Hotel Owner Accused of Employee Neglect.""
Ethan stared at the headline.
The article contained anonymous complaints.
Old accusations.
Manipulated stories.
And one photograph.
The photo showed Ethan walking through the hotel with a cold expression.
Taken completely out of context.
The internet reacted instantly.
People who once praised him now questioned him.
Marcus looked furious.
"This is a coordinated attack.""
Ethan nodded.
"Yes.""
"Victor?""
"Most likely.""
"But why now?""
Ethan looked at the article.
"Because he knows I found something.""
Within hours, reporters gathered outside the hotel.
Employees became nervous.
Guests started asking questions.
The beautiful image of the Grand Regent began cracking.
Exactly as Victor wanted.
Then Ethan received another message.
This time with a photograph.
His heart stopped.
It was Sarah.
Standing outside the Grand Regent fourteen years earlier.
And beside her...
Was Victor Blackwell.
The message below said:
Your wife had secrets.
The next one will destroy everything you believe.
Ethan stared at the image.
Because there was something impossible.
Something that made his entire understanding of Sarah collapse.
Behind Sarah in the photograph was a child.
A little boy.
May you like
And written beneath the photo was one sentence.
Ask your wife who Daniel Whitmore's son really is. :::
