Chapter 10 - THE MAN IN THE SHADOWS
The old estate was surrounded by trees.
Rain hammered the windshield.
Matthew parked two miles away.
Police surrounded the property.
But there was one problem.
They couldn't see the children.
"We need a plan," the police chief said.
Matthew shook his head.
"I don't have time."
Grace touched his arm.
"I know another way inside."
She led him through a narrow trail.
A hidden entrance opened beneath the old garage.
They entered.
The basement was dark.
Then they heard voices.
Benjamin.
Caleb.
Matthew almost ran forward.
Grace stopped him.
"Wait."
A man's voice echoed through the corridor.
"Matthew."
Robert Carter stepped into the light.
He was older.
Elegant.
Calm.
And terrifyingly composed.
Behind him stood Michael.
Despite being arrested earlier, he had somehow escaped custody.
Robert smiled.
"You finally came."
"Where are my sons?"
"They're safe."
"Let me see them."
"In a moment."
Matthew stared.
"You killed my father."
Robert's expression barely changed.
"Your father was weak."
"He was your brother."
"He betrayed me."
"You stole my company."
"I built it."
"No."
Matthew's voice hardened.
"I built it."
Robert smiled.
"Your father gave you the name. I gave you the empire."
Grace stepped forward.
"You killed Thomas."
Robert looked at her.
"Ah."
He smiled.
"His daughter."
Grace's hands trembled.
"You ruined my family."
"No."
Robert's expression turned cold.
"Your father ruined himself."
A door opened.
Benjamin and Caleb appeared.
Matthew's heart broke.
They ran toward him.
"Daddy!"
Matthew caught both boys.
He held them tightly.
"I've got you."
Robert watched.
"Now give me the drive."
Matthew looked at him.
"It's already been uploaded."
Robert's smile disappeared.
"What?"
"Every document."
Robert's face changed.
"The police have copies."
Michael panicked.
"You said—"
Robert turned.
"Shut up."
Matthew realized something.
Michael hadn't known.
Robert had used everyone.
Including him.
Then another man entered the room.
Older.
Thin.
Gray-haired.
Matthew stared.
Grace began crying.
"Dad?"
Thomas Whitmore looked at his daughter.
"I'm sorry."
Matthew froze.
Thomas stepped forward.
"I didn't kill anyone."
Robert laughed.
"Of course you didn't."
Thomas looked at Matthew.
"Your father discovered Robert's operation. He asked me to help expose him."
"What happened?"
"Robert found out."
Thomas looked down.
"He arranged the crash that killed your father."
Matthew's eyes filled with tears.
"And you?"
"I escaped."
Robert raised his gun.
Everything happened at once.
Police stormed the basement.
Michael ran.
Thomas tackled Robert.
A gunshot echoed.
Matthew shielded the boys.
Grace screamed.
Then silence.
When the smoke cleared, Robert lay on the floor.
Alive.
Arrested.
Michael was captured.
The nightmare was finally ending.
But Matthew looked at Grace.
She was crying.
Not from fear.
From relief.
He walked toward her.
"I owe you an apology."
She shook her head.
"You don't owe me anything."
"You protected my sons."
"They protected me too."
Matthew looked at Benjamin and Caleb.
The boys were holding each other's hands.
Then Benjamin asked:
"Is Grace staying?"
Matthew looked at her.
For the first time, he smiled.
"I hope so."
Grace looked surprised.
Matthew continued.
"Not as a cleaning lady."
Her eyes filled with tears.
"As family."
And for the first time since Jessica left, Matthew felt something he thought he had lost forever.
Hope.
But there was still one secret nobody had discovered.
As police escorted Robert away, he turned toward Matthew.
"Your father left something for you."
Matthew frowned.
"What?"
Robert smiled.
"You haven't found the second account."
Then he was taken away.
Matthew stood frozen.
Grace looked at him.
"What second account?"
Matthew slowly turned toward the mansion.
He suddenly remembered something.
His father's old study.
May you like
A room he had refused to enter since the funeral.
And somewhere inside that room was a secret his father had taken to his grave.
