Chapter 13: The Final Name on the List
Ethan Vance stared at the photograph.
For several seconds, nobody in the room moved.
The image was clear.
There was no misunderstanding.
No possibility of confusion.
The person standing beside Theodore Grant was someone Ethan had known for years.
Someone who had attended family dinners.
Someone who had celebrated every company milestone.
Someone who had hugged Lily after Claire’s funeral.
Someone Ethan had trusted completely.
The name on the document beneath the photograph made his hands tighten.
*Victoria Vance.*
His younger sister.
The room became painfully silent.
Robert looked from the photograph to Ethan.
“Ethan…”
He stopped.
There was nothing anyone could say.
Because some betrayals were impossible to prepare for.
Ethan slowly lowered the photograph.
“No.””
The word came out quietly.
Not denial.
Pain.
The woman who had stood beside him through the earliest years of his company.
The woman who had helped organize his first office.
The woman who told him after Claire died that she would protect Lily like her own daughter.
Could she really be part of this?
The investigator cleared her throat.
“Mr. Vance, we have not confirmed her direct involvement.””
Ethan looked at her.
“Then why is she in the photograph?””
The investigator hesitated.
“She met with Theodore several times.””
“How many?””
“Seven.””
“And the dates?””
The investigator opened the file.
Ethan looked.
His expression changed.
The meetings happened before major company decisions.
Expansion plans.
Leadership changes.
Financial adjustments.
Victoria was not randomly involved.
She was connected.
Ethan left the meeting alone.
He needed air.
He walked through the headquarters building without knowing where he was going.
Employees greeted him.
He barely heard them.
His mind was somewhere else.
With memories.
Victoria was eight years younger than him.
After their parents died, Ethan became more than a brother.
He became her protector.
He paid for her education.
Helped her start her career.
Supported every dream she had.
When he built Grand Regent, Victoria was one of the first people he hired.
She had told him:
“You’re not just building hotels, Ethan. You’re building a legacy.””
Those words had meant everything.
Now they felt different.
Were they ever sincere?
Or was she waiting for the right moment to take what he built?
That evening, Ethan went to see Victoria.
Not with security.
Not with lawyers.
Just himself.
She opened the door and smiled.
“Ethan?””
Then she noticed his expression.
The smile disappeared.
“What happened?””
He held up the photograph.
Victoria froze.
Only for a second.
But Ethan saw it.
The recognition.
The fear.
“You know what this is,” he said.
Victoria looked away.
“Where did you get that?””
“That’s your first question?””
She closed her eyes.
“Ethan…”
“No.””
His voice cracked slightly.
“I need you to answer me.””
Victoria stepped back.
“Come inside.””
He entered.
The house looked exactly as he remembered.
Family pictures.
Old memories.
A life that suddenly felt like a lie.
“Were you working with Theodore?””
Victoria did not answer.
That was enough.
Ethan turned away.
“Why?””
Her eyes filled.
“You think I wanted this?””
“I don’t know what to think anymore.””
Victoria sat down.
“After Claire died, everything changed.””
Ethan looked at her.
“What does Claire have to do with this?””
Victoria swallowed.
“She knew.””
“About you?””
“Yes.””
The answer hurt.
“How long?””
“Before she died.””
Ethan felt his chest tighten.
“Did you threaten her?””
Victoria immediately looked horrified.
“No.””
“Did you hurt her?””
“No!””
Her voice broke.
“I loved Claire.””
The anger in Ethan’s face softened slightly.
Because he believed that part.
Victoria continued.
“I made mistakes. Terrible mistakes. But I never wanted her harmed.””
“Then explain.””
She wiped her eyes.
“When Grand Regent started growing, I realized something.””
“What?””
“That I would always be your little sister.””
Ethan frowned.
“That’s not true.””
“It is.””
Victoria laughed sadly.
“You built everything. Everyone admired you. Everyone listened to you.””
“That bothered you?””
“I was proud of you.””
A pause.
“Until I wasn’t.””
The honesty shocked him.
Victoria looked down.
“I started feeling invisible.””
Ethan said nothing.
“Theodore noticed.””
Of course.
Theodore.
“He told me I deserved more.””
“And you believed him?””
“I wanted to.””
Her voice became quieter.
“He made me feel important.””
Ethan closed his eyes.
Because he understood now.
Theodore did not control people with money.
He controlled them by finding their wounds.
Their insecurities.
Their weaknesses.
“What did you do?””
Victoria looked ashamed.
“I gave him information.””
“What information?””
“Company strategies.””
Ethan stared.
“Security details.””
His expression hardened.
“And Claire?””
Victoria began crying.
“She found out.””
“What happened?””
“She confronted me.””
Ethan’s heart sank.
“What did she say?””
Victoria whispered:
“She told me I was about to lose the only family I had left.””
A tear rolled down her face.
“She was right.””
For a long time, Ethan said nothing.
Then he asked:
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
Victoria looked at him.
“Because I was ashamed.””
“That doesn’t explain everything.””
“No.””
She nodded.
“It doesn’t.””
She reached for a folder.
“I kept this because I knew one day you would discover the truth.””
Ethan took it.
Inside were copies of emails.
Messages between Theodore and several executives.
But one message caught Ethan’s attention.
A message from Theodore.
*Once Claire is removed, there will be no one left who can expose us.*
Ethan’s blood ran cold.
“Removed?””
Victoria looked down.
“I don’t know what he meant.””
But Ethan did.
Because now the truth was clear.
Claire’s death was not an accident.
May you like
Someone had planned it.
And Ethan finally knew who.
