Chapter 9: The Enemy Behind the Smile
The video disappeared from the screen.
No warning.
No explanation.
Just darkness.
Daniel pressed every button on the laptop.
Nothing.
The file was gone.
Completely erased.
Renee immediately stood.
“Someone accessed it remotely.””
Daniel looked at her.
“How?””
“Because whoever sent it wanted us to see it.””
“And wanted us to know they can control it.””
Renee nodded.
They both understood.
This wasn’t a message.
It was a threat.
Within hours, Sterling Global went into crisis mode.
Stock prices dropped.
News outlets began reporting rumors about Renee’s health.
Anonymous sources claimed she was mentally unfit to lead.
Daniel watched the headlines appear.
“She’s being attacked.””
Renee stood silently.
“No.””
He looked at her.
“What?””
“She’s being removed.””
The difference mattered.
Because this wasn’t about embarrassment.
This was a takeover.
Claire entered the office holding a tablet.
“Renee.””
“What?””
“The board scheduled an emergency vote.””
Renee’s face changed.
“When?””
“Tomorrow morning.””
Daniel looked at her.
“They’re moving fast.””
“They have been planning this for years.””
Claire hesitated.
“There’s more.””
“What?””
“Marcus is attending.””
Daniel clenched his jaw.
Of course he was.
That evening, Daniel confronted Marcus.
He found him outside the Sterling building.
“You wanted to see me.””
Marcus turned.
“I was wondering when you would come.””
Daniel stopped.
“You knew?””
Marcus smiled.
“You’re not as ordinary as you pretend.””
Daniel ignored the comment.
“You were part of this.””
Marcus looked amused.
“Part of what?””
“The plan to remove Renee.””
Marcus laughed.
“You think I’m powerful enough to do that?””
“No.””
Daniel stepped closer.
“I think you’re desperate enough.””
The smile disappeared.
For the first time, Marcus looked angry.
“You have no idea what you’re involved in.””
“Everyone keeps saying that.””
“Because it’s true.””
Daniel stared at him.
“Why did you leave her?””
Marcus looked away.
The question clearly bothered him.
“Because she was dying.””
Daniel’s expression hardened.
“Thank you for admitting it.””
Marcus looked back.
“You think that makes me a bad person?””
“Yes.””
Marcus laughed bitterly.
“You have no idea what it’s like.””
“What?””
“To love someone powerful.””
Daniel almost laughed.
“You didn’t love her.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“You think you know everything because you sat beside her in a hospital room?””
“No.””
Daniel looked him directly in the eyes.
“I know because when she was scared, I stayed.””
Marcus had no response.
Later that night, Renee received an unexpected visitor.
Her aunt Victoria.
Again.
This time, she looked terrified.
“We need to talk.””
Renee refused.
“Last time you accused me.””
“Because I was trying to protect you.””
“By lying?””
Victoria looked at Daniel.
“I didn’t know he would be here.””
Daniel frowned.
“Why does that matter?””
Victoria ignored him.
“Renee, your father made mistakes.””
“What mistakes?””
“He trusted the wrong people.””
“Who?””
Victoria’s eyes filled with fear.
“Your mother.””
The room went silent.
Renee looked furious.
“My mother is dead.””
“I know.””
“Then why do people keep blaming dead people?””
“Because dead people can’t defend themselves.””
Daniel noticed something.
Victoria wasn’t attacking.
She was afraid.
“What happened to Renee’s mother?”” he asked.
Victoria looked at him.
“You really don’t know.””
“No.””
She sighed.
“Your mother didn’t die naturally.””
Renee froze.
“What?””
Victoria whispered:
“She was killed.””
The words landed like an explosion.
Daniel looked at Renee.
She looked completely broken.
“No.””
Victoria nodded.
“Yes.””
“Who?””
Victoria opened her mouth.
Then stopped.
Because someone was standing outside the office.
Watching them.
A figure disappeared into the hallway.
Daniel ran after them.
But by the time he reached the elevator, it was empty.
Only one thing remained.
A piece of paper on the floor.
Daniel picked it up.
Three words were written on it.
“Ask your wife.””
His hands tightened.
Because Sarah was dead.
And whoever left the note knew something about her.
Something Daniel didn’t.
When he returned, Renee was holding another document.
A document Victoria had brought.
Daniel looked at it.
“What is that?””
Victoria answered quietly.
“Your wife’s final report.””
Daniel froze.
“My wife wrote this?””
“Yes.””
“About what?””
Victoria looked at him.
“About the person who was planning to destroy Sterling Global.””
Daniel opened the file.
The first line immediately made his heart stop.
“Subject: The person closest to Renee Sterling.””
Daniel looked at Renee.
Then at the report.
Because Sarah’s final secret was not about a stranger.
May you like
It was about someone Renee trusted completely.
Someone who had been standing beside her all along.
