Chapter 9 - THE BROTHER WHO DISAPPEARED
Nobody moved.
The message sat on Griffin's phone.
A single sentence.
But it changed everything.
Because suddenly Marcus was no longer the man helping expose the truth.
He was part of the mystery.
Griffin looked at him.
"What does that mean?"
Marcus didn't answer.
And that was the worst possible answer.
"Marcus."
The warning in Griffin's voice was clear.
His best friend looked older suddenly.
Tired.
Like he had been carrying a secret for years.
"I was trying to protect you."
Griffin laughed once.
A bitter sound.
"By lying to me?"
"I didn't know how to tell you."
"Tell me what?"
Marcus looked around.
At the security guards.
At the cameras.
At everyone watching.
Then he lowered his voice.
"The man behind this is Adrian Hales."
Griffin froze.
The name meant something.
I could see it.
Pain.
Confusion.
Anger.
"That name..."
Marcus nodded.
"Your father's first son."
Griffin stepped back.
"No."
"Yes."
"My father never had another child."
Marcus looked at him.
"Your father made sure nobody knew."
The pieces began connecting.
The hidden conversations.
The attack.
The fake footage.
Someone wasn't trying to steal Griffin's company.
Someone was trying to destroy him personally.
"Where is he?" Griffin asked.
Marcus looked down.
"I don't know."
"You're lying."
"I'm not."
Griffin grabbed his jacket.
"Then why does he know everything about me?"
Marcus hesitated.
And that hesitation was enough.
"You know something."
Marcus closed his eyes.
"I know he has someone inside your company."
"Who?"
Marcus didn't answer.
Suddenly, a loud crash came from downstairs.
Everyone turned.
Security rushed toward the lobby.
Then a scream echoed through the hotel.
A woman.
Terrified.
Seconds later, a guard appeared.
"Mr. Hales!"
Everyone looked at him.
"The person who hacked the system..."
"He left a message."
Griffin walked toward him.
"What message?"
The guard swallowed.
"It's not for you."
A cold feeling moved through me.
"Then who is it for?"
The guard looked directly at me.
"It's for Fay."
My heart stopped.
"What does it say?"
The guard handed me a small envelope.
My name was written on the front.
FAY LAWSON.
My hands shook as I opened it.
Inside was an old photograph.
A photograph of a young woman.
A woman I had never met.
But I recognized her immediately.
Because she looked exactly like me.
May you like
On the back of the photograph were six words:
You were chosen for a reason.
