CHAPTER 11: THE ENEMY IN THE SHADOWS
The message on Michael’s phone changed everything.
For the first time since Arthur found out about the betrayal, Michael Vance looked afraid.
Not angry.
Not confident.
Afraid.
Arthur noticed immediately.
“You don’t know who did this.”
Michael slowly looked up.
“No.”
The answer shocked everyone.
Arthur stepped closer.
“Then explain something to me.”
Michael stared at the phone.
“What?”
“If you were behind everything…”
Arthur pointed at the screen.
“Why are you scared?”
Michael didn’t respond.
Because for the first time, Arthur saw the truth.
Michael wasn’t the mastermind.
He was only another person being controlled.
David checked his own computer.
“Arthur, this transfer is moving through several offshore accounts.”
Arthur frowned.
“How fast?”
“Too fast.”
David’s fingers moved quickly across the keyboard.
“Someone planned this months ago.”
Claire looked worried.
“They knew this moment would happen.”
Arthur looked around the room.
His wife.
His brother.
His former employee.
The woman he thought was dead.
Everyone connected to the same mystery.
And somewhere in the middle of it all was his son.
Benjamin.
Arthur immediately turned toward him.
“Maria.”
Maria stepped forward.
“Yes?”
“Take Benjamin outside.”
Benjamin looked confused.
“Dad?”
Arthur knelt down.
“Buddy, I need you to trust me.”
“But I want to stay.”
“I know.”
Arthur placed a hand on his shoulder.
“But some battles are for adults.”
Benjamin looked at him.
“You’ll come back?”
Arthur smiled softly.
“I always do.”
Maria led Benjamin away.
When the door closed, Arthur turned back.
“Now everyone tells me the truth.”
Nobody spoke.
Arthur’s voice became colder.
“No more secrets.”
Michael sat down heavily.
For the first time, the powerful businessman looked broken.
“You don’t understand what happened.”
Arthur stared.
“Then explain.”
Michael rubbed his face.
“I never wanted Benjamin hurt.”
Arthur laughed bitterly.
“You kidnapped him.”
“I was trying to keep him away from someone else.”
“Who?”
Michael looked at Claire.
Then Thomas.
Then finally Arthur.
“The person who started this entire plan.”
David looked up.
“You know who it is?”
Michael nodded.
“Yes.”
Arthur stepped forward.
“Who?”
Michael hesitated.
Then said:
“Your father.”
Silence.
Arthur froze.
“My father has been dead for fifteen years.”
Michael nodded.
“I know.”
“Then stop playing games.”
“I’m not.”
Michael looked serious.
“The plan started before you inherited the company.”
Arthur stared at him.
“What are you saying?”
Michael opened his phone.
He showed them an old message.
A message from an unknown sender.
A message dated eight years ago.
"The Vance fortune must remain under our control. Arthur cannot know the truth."
Arthur felt a chill.
“Who sent this?”
Michael shook his head.
“I never knew.”
Thomas stepped closer.
“But you followed the instructions.”
Michael looked ashamed.
“Yes.”
Arthur’s anger returned.
“You destroyed my family because of an anonymous message?”
Michael looked at him.
“You don’t understand. They knew everything about us.”
“What does that mean?”
“They knew our weaknesses.”
Michael looked toward Claire.
“They knew Claire would discover the truth.”
He looked toward Thomas.
“They knew Thomas would investigate.”
Then he looked at Elena.
“They knew Elena could be manipulated.”
Arthur’s eyes narrowed.
“So Elena was just a tool?”
A quiet voice answered.
“Yes.”
Everyone turned.
Elena stood near the doorway.
Her face was pale.
Arthur stared.
“How long have you been there?”
“Long enough.”
She walked into the room slowly.
For once, she looked defeated.
“I was wrong.”
Arthur said nothing.
Elena continued.
“I thought I could control the situation.”
She looked at Claire.
“I thought if I helped them, they would protect me.”
Claire’s expression hardened.
“But they used you.”
Elena nodded.
“Yes.”
Arthur looked at her.
“You stole from Benjamin.”
Tears filled Elena’s eyes.
“I know.”
“You lied to me.”
“I know.”
“You let me believe everyone was against you.”
Elena lowered her head.
“I know.”
Arthur looked away.
Because hearing her admit it did not make the pain disappear.
It only confirmed what he already knew.
Then Elena said something that changed the entire room.
“But there is one thing I never lied about.”
Arthur looked back.
“What?”
She looked toward Benjamin’s direction.
“I love him.”
Nobody spoke.
Elena wiped her tears.
“I made terrible choices. I was selfish. I was scared.”
She looked at Arthur.
“But Benjamin was never a weapon to me.”
Arthur remained silent.
Because he wanted to believe that.
But trust was not something that returned overnight.
Suddenly, David’s computer made a sound.
Everyone turned.
A new notification appeared.
The transfer had stopped.
David looked confused.
“What happened?”
Arthur stepped closer.
“Can you trace it?”
David shook his head.
“Someone blocked the connection.”
Thomas looked at the screen.
Then his face changed.
“No…”
Arthur noticed.
“What?”
Thomas pointed.
“That code.”
“What about it?”
Thomas’s voice became quiet.
“I’ve seen it before.”
Arthur stared.
“Where?”
Thomas looked at him.
“On the night I disappeared.”
The room went silent.
Arthur felt his heart race.
“Who used it?”
Thomas swallowed.
“The person who tried to kill me.”
Before anyone could react, every screen in the room suddenly turned black.
Then one message appeared.
A single line.
"Arthur Vance, you spent years searching for the truth."
A second line appeared.
"Now I will show you why the truth should have stayed buried."
Arthur stared at the screen.
Then another message appeared.
"Your son was never the target."
A pause.
"You were."
The lights flickered.
And from upstairs…
A scream echoed through the mansion.
Benjamin.
Arthur ran.
Because after everything he had discovered…
One thing remained clear.
Someone was still trying to take his son away.
And this time…
May you like
Arthur was ready to fight back.
TO BE CONTINUED…
