Chapter 14 - THE MAN WHO CONTROLLED EVERYTHING
Nobody moved.
Marcus stood in the doorway like he had been waiting for this moment.
Twenty years.
Maybe longer.
Waiting.
Planning.
Watching.
Griffin stared at the man who had been his best friend.
The man who had stood beside him through every success.
The man he trusted with his life.
"Marcus..."
His voice was quiet.
Almost broken.
"Why?"
Marcus smiled sadly.
"That's the question everyone asks."
He stepped inside.
"You want to know why?"
Nobody answered.
So he continued.
"Because your father destroyed my family."
Adrian laughed bitterly.
"There it is."
Marcus ignored him.
"Your father took everything from me."
Griffin shook his head.
"I don't understand."
"You wouldn't."
Marcus pointed the gun toward the documents.
"He built this empire by taking opportunities that should have been mine."
"That's a lie."
Marcus looked at Adrian.
"Ask him."
Everyone turned.
Adrian looked tired.
"Your father was not innocent."
Griffin looked between them.
"What happened?"
Adrian answered.
"Years ago, our father discovered someone inside the company was stealing money."
Marcus smiled.
"And he blamed me."
"You were guilty."
Marcus' expression darkened.
The room went silent.
Then Marcus laughed.
A cold, empty laugh.
"Yes."
The confession shocked everyone.
"I made mistakes."
He looked at Griffin.
"But your father ruined my life."
Griffin stared.
"So you planned all this?"
Marcus nodded.
"Every piece."
The words felt unreal.
"The champagne."
"The cameras."
"The fake evidence."
He looked at me.
"You."
My stomach turned.
"You brought me here."
"Yes."
"Why?"
Marcus stepped closer.
"Because nobody listens to invisible people."
The words hurt because they were true.
"You knew they would believe me."
"I knew they would ignore you."
He smiled.
"Until you became useful."
Anger burned inside me.
"You destroyed my life."
Marcus looked almost guilty.
Almost.
"I needed the truth to come out."
"No."
I shook my head.
"You needed chaos."
For the first time, Marcus looked uncertain.
Griffin stepped forward.
"You almost killed me."
Marcus lowered his eyes.
"I never wanted you dead."
"Celeste did."
A pause.
Marcus looked away.
And that was the answer.
Griffin understood.
"Where is she?"
Marcus didn't answer.
Then a voice came from behind him.
"Looking for me?"
Everyone turned.
Celeste entered the room.
But she wasn't wearing the elegant dress from the party anymore.
No diamonds.
No perfect smile.
Just anger.
And fear.
Griffin stared at her.
"You worked with him."
Celeste smiled.
"Of course."
The betrayal hit harder because she didn't deny it.
"I needed your money."
Griffin looked disgusted.
"And Marcus needed revenge."
Celeste nodded.
"Everyone gets what they want."
She looked at me.
"Except you."
My heart tightened.
"What?"
Celeste smiled.
"Your mother left something behind."
She looked at the box.
"Something that can destroy all of us."
Marcus suddenly moved.
"Where is it?"
Celeste smiled.
And for the first time...
Marcus looked afraid.
"I already found it."
May you like
She held up a small flash drive.
"The truth."
