Chapter 26: The Person Who Controlled the Entire Game
The door opened before anyone touched it.
A man stepped inside.
Older.
Calm.
Confident.
The kind of person who didn’t need to raise his voice because everyone already listened.
Ethan froze.
I noticed immediately.
This wasn’t a stranger.
This was someone Ethan feared.
The man looked around the room.
Then smiled.
“Well.””
His eyes landed on me.
“Marcus Hayes.””
Nobody moved.
Daniel whispered:
“Who is he?””
Ethan answered quietly.
“Victor.””
The name meant nothing to me.
But the reaction around me did.
Sarah’s face went pale.
Jordan stepped back.
Even Ethan looked nervous.
Victor smiled.
“Looks like everyone finally found each other.””
I stared at him.
“Who are you?””
He ignored the question.
Instead, he looked at Ethan.
“You were always emotional.””
Ethan’s jaw tightened.
“Leave.””
Victor laughed.
“After everything I did for you?””
That sentence changed the atmosphere.
I looked at Ethan.
“What did he mean?””
Ethan didn’t answer.
Victor walked further into the room.
“You all think Ethan created this.””
He looked amused.
“He didn’t.””
My stomach tightened.
“What are you saying?””
Victor looked at me.
“I’m saying Ethan was useful.””
Ethan’s face hardened.
“You used me.””
Victor smiled.
“Of course.””
The honesty was disturbing.
Sarah whispered:
“You lied to me too.””
Victor looked at her.
“You were easy.””
Her face fell.
“Easy?””
“Yes.””
He shrugged.
“You wanted a better life.””
The words sounded exactly like something Ethan had said.
Like Victor had studied everyone.
Used everyone.
I looked at him.
“You planned this.””
Victor smiled.
“Now you’re understanding.””
My anger rose.
“You destroyed my family.””
“No.””
He looked around.
“Your family destroyed itself.””
I stepped forward.
“You manipulated Sarah.””
“Yes.””
“You manipulated Ethan.””
“Yes.””
“You watched my son suffer.””
His smile disappeared.
“No.””
A pause.
“I didn’t care enough to watch.””
That was worse.
Because it meant Michael had never even been a person to him.
Just a piece.
I moved toward him.
Daniel stopped me.
“Marcus.””
Victor looked at Michael.
“You’re the interesting one.””
Michael immediately stepped back.
I moved between them.
“Don’t look at him.””
Victor smiled.
“There it is.””
“What?””
“The reason your father chose you.””
I frowned.
“What?””
“You protect.””
I stared at him.
Victor continued.
“Your father understood something Ethan never did.””
“What?””
“Power isn’t money.””
He looked at Michael.
“It’s loyalty.””
The room went quiet.
I realized something.
Victor wasn’t interested in inheritance.
Not really.
He was interested in control.
“Why?””
I asked.
“Why do all this?””
Victor looked at me.
“Because your father made a mistake.””
“What mistake?””
“He thought leaving behind a good son would fix the damage he caused.””
My chest tightened.
“And?””
Victor smiled.
“He was wrong.””
The police arrived moments later.
Daniel had secretly called them.
Victor didn’t resist.
That surprised me.
He simply smiled.
Like this was still part of his plan.
As officers escorted him away, he stopped beside me.
“Marcus.””
I didn’t answer.
“You still don’t know the whole story.””
I stared at him.
“More secrets?””
He smiled.
“Your father’s biggest secret.””
Then he left.
The next few days were chaos.
Investigations.
Documents.
Questions.
Sarah cooperated.
Ethan cooperated.
But neither of them was free from what they had done.
Pain explained choices.
It didn’t erase consequences.
One evening, Michael and I sat outside.
Quiet.
Peaceful.
Something we hadn’t had in a long time.
“Dad?””
“Yeah?””
“Do you hate Ethan?””
I thought about it.
“No.””
Michael looked surprised.
“Why?””
“Because I understand why he became who he became.””
“But he hurt us.””
“Yes.””
I looked at him.
“And understanding someone doesn’t mean excusing them.””
Michael nodded.
“That makes sense.””
A week later, Daniel called.
His voice sounded different.
“Marcus.””
“What happened?””
“We found something in Victor’s files.””
“What?””
“A video.””
My heart tightened.
“Of what?””
“Your father.””
I froze.
“Impossible.””
“It’s old.””
“What does it show?””
Daniel was silent.
Then:
“Your father meeting Ethan’s mother.””
I sat down.
“Why is that important?””
“Because Marcus…”
A pause.
“He wasn’t leaving Ethan behind.””
I frowned.
“What?””
“He was trying to protect him.””
I felt cold.
“From what?””
May you like
Daniel’s answer changed everything.
“From Victor.””
