Chapter 5: The Enemy Wearing a Family Name
The next morning, Lucas woke up to find his entire life had changed.
The apartment overlooking downtown Seattle was usually a place of peace.
A place where he could escape investors, employees, and endless business decisions.
But that morning, every corner felt unfamiliar.
Every photograph.
Every memory.
Every achievement.
Everything belonged to a family name he no longer trusted.
His phone had not stopped ringing.
News outlets.
Board members.
Investors.
Friends pretending to be concerned.
Everyone wanted answers.
But Lucas had none.
Only questions.
His first call was not to his lawyers.
Not to his company.
Not to his grandfather.
It was to Claire.
She answered after the second ring.
"Hello.""
Her voice was calm.
As always.
"Did you sleep?""
A pause.
"No.""
Lucas looked out the window.
"Neither did I.""
Silence.
Then Claire asked:
"Do you regret helping me?""
The question surprised him.
"No.""
"You should.""
"Why?""
"Because your life was easier before I arrived.""
Lucas almost smiled.
"Easier isn't the same as better.""
That answer made her quiet.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Lucas said:
"Where are you?""
"At my apartment.""
"Send me the address.""
Another pause.
"Why?""
"Because we need to figure this out.""
Claire sighed.
"Lucas.""
"What?""
"You don't know me.""
"I know enough.""
"No, you don't.""
Her voice softened.
"You know the woman who walked into a gala wearing a dress your family ruined.""
A pause.
"You don't know the person who spent fifteen years wondering why her mother died.""
Lucas became quiet.
Because he understood something.
Claire wasn't angry because she wanted revenge.
She was angry because she had spent years without answers.
"I want to help.""
"You can't fix this.""
"Maybe.""
He looked at the city.
"But I'm going to try.""
After a long silence, she gave him the address.
An hour later, Lucas stood outside Claire's small apartment.
The contrast was almost shocking.
His home was luxury.
Her apartment was simple.
Clean.
Quiet.
Nothing about it suggested someone connected to billionaires.
Inside, however, Lucas noticed something.
Books.
Hundreds of them.
Business.
Finance.
Technology.
History.
Law.
Claire wasn't someone who had spent fifteen years hiding.
She had been preparing.
"You studied my family.""
Claire looked up from her laptop.
"I studied what happened to my mother.""
Lucas noticed several documents spread across the table.
"What are those?""
"Evidence.""
His attention sharpened.
"Of what?""
Claire turned the screen toward him.
"Money transfers.""
Lucas studied the documents.
His expression changed.
"This account...""
"Belongs to a company connected to Everhart Industries.""
"That's impossible.""
"Why?""
"Because this company doesn't exist anymore.""
Claire nodded.
"Exactly.""
Lucas looked at her.
"What are you saying?""
"My mother found a hidden network of companies.""
She pointed at the documents.
"Money moved through these accounts before disappearing.""
Lucas leaned closer.
"And your mother discovered this?""
"Yes.""
"Then why didn't she expose it?""
Claire's expression changed.
"Because she trusted someone.""
"Who?""
She looked at him.
"Your grandfather.""
Lucas didn't respond.
Because that was the part he couldn't understand.
Richard seemed guilty.
But not in the way Claire described.
He seemed like someone who had failed.
Not someone who had planned everything.
"What happened after she told him?""
Claire looked down.
"Three days later, she disappeared.""
Lucas became still.
"Disappeared?""
"Everyone believed she ran away.""
"But you don't.""
"No.""
Claire closed the laptop.
"Because my mother would never leave me.""
The pain in her voice was subtle.
But Lucas heard it.
For the first time, he saw beyond the mystery.
Beyond the secrets.
He saw the girl who lost her mother.
The woman who had carried that loss alone.
Then his phone rang.
Richard.
Lucas answered.
"Hello.""
The voice on the other end was urgent.
"Lucas.""
"What happened?""
"You need to leave Claire's apartment immediately.""
Lucas looked at Claire.
"Why?""
A pause.
Then Richard said:
"Because someone just tried to kill me.""
The room went silent.
"What?""
"The person who attacked me left one message.""
Lucas tightened his grip on the phone.
"What message?""
Richard's voice dropped.
"They know Claire is back.""
The call ended.
Lucas looked at Claire.
Her expression had changed.
She already understood.
"They're scared.""
Lucas nodded.
"And scared people make mistakes.""
Claire looked at him.
"No.""
May you like
She stood.
"Scared people become dangerous.""
