Chapter 6: The First Betrayal
Richard Everhart survived the attack.
Barely.
The official statement claimed it was an attempted robbery.
Nobody believed that.
Not Lucas.
Not Claire.
And certainly not Richard.
Because the attacker had ignored every valuable item in the room.
The watch.
The cash.
The expensive artwork.
The only thing taken was one file.
A file containing information about Eleanor Bennett.
By noon, Lucas was inside Everhart Industries headquarters.
The building had always represented success.
Glass walls.
Modern architecture.
Thousands of employees.
A symbol of innovation.
But walking through the lobby that day felt different.
It felt like entering a battlefield.
People stared.
They had seen the news.
They knew Claire Bennett had appeared.
They knew the Everhart family was facing questions.
Lucas entered the executive floor.
His uncle Alexander was waiting.
"You look angry.""
Lucas closed the door.
"Someone attacked my grandfather.""
Alexander remained calm.
"I heard.""
"And?""
"And what?""
Lucas stared.
"You don't seem surprised.""
Alexander said nothing.
That silence was enough.
Lucas stepped closer.
"You knew this would happen.""
"No.""
"You knew something would happen.""
Alexander's expression hardened.
"You are making dangerous assumptions.""
"And you are avoiding dangerous truths.""
For a moment, they simply stared at each other.
Two Everhart men.
Two generations.
One built on secrets.
One searching for answers.
Finally, Alexander spoke.
"You need to stay away from that woman.""
Lucas laughed.
"Still calling her that?""
"She is manipulating you.""
"How?""
"By making you question your family.""
Lucas looked at him.
"No.""
His voice became colder.
"She didn't make me question my family.""
A pause.
"You did.""
Alexander looked away.
That tiny movement told Lucas everything.
There was guilt.
Not enough to confess.
But enough to reveal fear.
"I want access to the old company records.""
Alexander immediately refused.
"No.""
"Why?""
"Because they are sealed.""
"By who?""
Alexander didn't answer.
Lucas stepped closer.
"By you?""
Silence.
Then Alexander said:
"You have no idea what you're opening.""
Lucas looked at the man who had spent his entire life protecting the Everhart name.
"I think I do.""
He turned toward the door.
"I think I'm opening the grave where my family buried the truth.""
Before leaving, Lucas stopped.
"One more thing.""
Alexander looked at him.
"If my father was involved...""
A pause.
"...I need to know.""
Alexander's expression softened.
For one second, Lucas thought he might finally tell the truth.
Instead, his uncle said:
"Your father loved you.""
Lucas froze.
Not because of the words.
Because Alexander avoided the question.
And sometimes, avoiding an answer was the clearest answer of all.
Later that evening, Lucas met Claire near the waterfront.
The city lights reflected on the water.
For the first time, neither of them looked like enemies.
They looked like two people trapped inside the same storm.
"I found something," Lucas said.
Claire looked at him.
"What?""
"A hidden archive.""
Her expression changed.
"Where?""
"Inside Everhart Industries.""
"Can you access it?""
"Not officially.""
A small smile appeared on her face.
"You broke rules?""
Lucas looked amused.
"Apparently I have been a disappointment to my family in more ways than one.""
Claire almost smiled.
Almost.
Then her phone rang.
She looked at the screen.
Her expression immediately changed.
Lucas noticed.
"Who is it?""
Claire didn't answer.
The phone continued ringing.
Finally, she picked up.
"Hello?""
Her face became pale.
"Where are you?""
A pause.
Then:
"No.""
Lucas watched her carefully.
"What happened?""
Claire slowly lowered the phone.
"My mother's old lawyer.""
"What about him?""
"He wants to meet.""
"That's good, isn't it?""
Claire shook her head.
"No.""
"Why?""
Her eyes met his.
"Because he died ten years ago.""
The wind seemed to disappear.
Lucas stared.
"What?""
Claire looked toward the city.
"The person who called me...""
A pause.
"...was using his phone.""
Lucas felt a cold wave move through him.
Someone was playing with them.
Someone knew every secret.
Someone knew Claire was back.
And someone wanted them to know they were watching.
Then Claire received another message.
One sentence.
Only one.
She showed it to Lucas.
His blood ran cold.
*You should have stayed hidden, Eleanor's daughter.*
For the first time, Claire looked afraid.
Not for herself.
For him.
May you like
Because whoever sent the message knew exactly who Lucas was.
And they were willing to destroy anyone standing between them and the truth.
