Chapter 1

I barely slept again that night.

The address the man had given me kept flashing in my mind. I had looked it up several times — an old, abandoned art gallery in a quiet, almost forgotten part of the city. The kind of place where no one would notice if something went wrong.

Part of me knew I should tell Richard or my father. But the man’s warning still echoed in my head:

Don’t tell anyone — not even your father.

By morning, I had made my decision.

I would go.

Alone.

But I wasn’t completely unprepared.

I spent the day making copies of everything — the letter from my mother, the recordings, the emails, and the messages I had received. I hid one copy in a safety deposit box at the bank and gave another copy to Richard with strict instructions.

“If anything happens to me,” I told him, “release everything to the press and the authorities.”

Richard looked at me with concern.

“Elena, this is too dangerous. Let me send someone with you tonight.”

I shook my head.

“If they see anyone else, they might not show up. Or worse, they might disappear completely. I need answers. And I need them now.”

Richard sighed but didn’t argue further. He simply said, “Be careful. And keep your phone on you at all times.”

That evening, I dressed in simple, dark clothes and left the hotel without telling anyone where I was going. I drove myself to the address, constantly checking the rearview mirror to make sure I wasn’t being followed.

When I arrived, the old art gallery looked even more abandoned than I had imagined. The windows were boarded up, and the front door was slightly open, as if someone had already gone inside.

I hesitated for a moment, then stepped through the door.

The inside was dark and smelled of dust and old paint. A single dim light was on in the far corner of the main room. As I walked closer, I saw a woman standing there, waiting.

It was Lena Moreau.

She looked even more serious than the night before.

“You came,” she said quietly.

“I almost didn’t,” I replied. “But I need to know the truth.”

Lena nodded and motioned for me to follow her. We walked deeper into the building until we reached a small room at the back. She closed the door behind us and turned to face me.

“I don’t have much time,” she said. “They’re watching me too.”

“Who are they?” I asked.

Lena took a deep breath.

“Powerful people. People who have been controlling parts of this city for decades. Your mother found out about them. She discovered that some of the biggest investors in Langford Holdings were using the company to launder money and fund illegal activities. When she tried to expose them, they made sure she had an ‘accident.’”

I felt my stomach twist.

“My mother was murdered because she wanted to do the right thing?”

Lena nodded.

“And now, they see you as the same threat. Especially since you’re taking back control of the company. They’re afraid you’ll find out what they’ve been doing.”

I swallowed hard.

“Who are they?” I asked again. “I need names.”

Lena hesitated.

“One of them is on your board of directors. His name is Henry Caldwell. Another one is very close to your father — his name is Thomas Reed. He’s been your father’s advisor for over twenty years.”

I felt like the ground had shifted beneath me.

Thomas Reed.

He had been like an uncle to me growing up. I had trusted him completely.

“And the third?” I asked, almost afraid to hear the answer.

Lena looked me straight in the eyes.

“The third one… is someone you used to love.”

My blood ran cold.

“Marcus?” I whispered.

Lena shook her head.

“No. Not Marcus. Someone else. Someone from your past. Before you met Marcus.”

I frowned, confused.

“Who?”

Lena’s voice dropped even lower.

“His name is Adrian Langford. Your father’s younger brother.”

I stared at her in shock.

“I don’t have an uncle,” I said. “My father never mentioned having a brother.”

Lena’s expression was grim.

“That’s because your father had him removed from the family a long time ago. Adrian was involved in some very dangerous things. He disappeared after a huge scandal. Everyone thought he was dead. But he’s not. He’s alive. And he’s working with Victor Lang’s people.”

I felt like I couldn’t breathe.

My own uncle?

Someone from my own blood was working against me?

Lena continued.

“Adrian wants revenge. He blames your father — and by extension, you — for destroying his life. He’s been working in the shadows for years, waiting for the right moment to strike. And now that you’re rising in power, he sees you as the perfect target.”

I took a step back, trying to process everything.

“So all of this… the threats, the messages, the attempts on my life… it’s not just about the hotel or the money. It’s personal.”

Lena nodded.

“Very personal.”

She reached into her coat and pulled out a small USB drive.

“This contains everything I have. Names, transactions, old records. It’s not complete, but it’s enough to start. Use it carefully.”

I took the USB drive from her.

Before I could ask anything else, Lena suddenly tensed.

“We need to leave,” she said quickly. “Now.”

I frowned.

“What’s wrong?”

She looked toward the door.

“I think we’ve been followed.”

My heart started pounding.

Lena grabbed my arm.

“There’s a back exit. Come with me.”

We moved quickly through the dark building. Just as we reached the back door, we heard footsteps behind us.

“Run,” Lena whispered.

We pushed through the door and ran into the alley behind the building. Two men in dark clothes were already coming toward us.

Lena pushed me forward.

“Go! I’ll hold them off!”

“No!” I shouted. “I’m not leaving you!”

But Lena didn’t listen. She turned around and faced the two men, pulling something out of her coat — a small knife.

I hesitated for only a second before running.

I could hear sounds of a struggle behind me, but I didn’t look back. I kept running until I reached my car. I jumped inside, locked the doors, and drove away as fast as I could.

My hands were shaking on the steering wheel.

I didn’t know if Lena was okay. I didn’t even know if she was still alive.

When I finally reached the hotel, I went straight up to my suite and locked the door. I sat on the bed, breathing hard, trying to calm myself down.

I looked at the USB drive in my hand.

Everything Lena had told me was spinning in my head.

My mother had been murdered.

My uncle — who I didn’t even know existed — was trying to destroy me.

And powerful people on the board and close to my father were involved.

I felt more alone than ever.

My phone buzzed with a new message.

It was from the same unknown number.

You shouldn’t have gone to that meeting.