Chapter 5 - The Contract of Betrayal
The room became painfully silent.
Arthur stared at the document.
His hands were shaking.
“This isn’t real.”
Julian laughed.
“That’s what everyone says when they see the truth.”
Elara looked between them.
“Dad…”
“Tell me this isn’t true.”
Arthur couldn’t answer.
And that silence hurt more than any confession.
Eleanor stepped away.
“Arthur.”
“What did you sign?”
He looked at her.
“I don’t remember.”
Julian smiled.
“Of course you don’t.”
“Because someone made sure you wouldn’t.”
Victoria suddenly spoke.
“There’s more.”
Everyone turned.
She opened another file.
“Julian wasn’t the only person investigating this family.”
“What are you saying?”
Victoria looked at Elara.
“Your father discovered someone close to him was betraying him.”
Elara whispered:
“Who?”
Victoria slowly turned.
Her eyes stopped on Eleanor.
The room exploded with shock.
“No.”
Arthur immediately stepped forward.
“That’s impossible.”
Victoria shook her head.
“I wish it was.”
Eleanor looked terrified.
“I would never betray this family.”
But then…
A small object fell from her purse.
An old key.
Julian stared at it.
His expression changed.
“Where did you get that?”
Eleanor picked it up quickly.
“It’s nothing.”
Julian whispered:
“That key belonged to your husband’s hidden vault.”
Everyone froze.
Arthur looked at his wife.
“Eleanor…”
“What is inside that vault?”
She said nothing.
And that silence revealed the worst possibility.
Someone in this room…
May you like
Had been hiding the truth for years.
TO BE CONTINUED…
