Chapter 5 - The Ugly Truth
It took Arthur three grueling days of hacking to uncover the depths of the betrayal. He sat in his wheelchair, the glow of the monitors illuminating his furious face. Sarah stood behind him, horrified by what was scrolling across the screen.
It wasn't just corporate espionage. It was deeply, viciously personal.
Arthur had accessed the private servers of his half-brother, Julian. Hidden behind layers of encryption were bank transfers, burner phone logs, and worst of all, security footage from Julian’s private penthouse.
Arthur clicked a video file dated two weeks before the crash.
The screen flickered, showing Julian pouring two glasses of champagne in his living room. A moment later, Clara Vance—Arthur’s beautiful, supposedly grieving fiancée—walked into the frame. She wasn't wearing her engagement ring. She wrapped her arms around Julian’s neck and kissed him passionately.
"Is it done?" Clara’s voice echoed through the laptop speakers.
"The mechanic was paid in untraceable crypto," Julian replied, handing her a glass. "The brakes will fail on the descent from the mountain retreat. Arthur will go over the ridge. By the time they find the wreck, there won't be enough left of him to investigate."
"And the company?" Clara asked, smiling.
"The board is already backing me as interim CEO. Once he is declared legally dead, you inherit his personal estate, and I take absolute control of Sterling Global. We'll own the city."
Arthur paused the video. The silence in the room was deafening.
Sarah placed a gentle hand on Arthur’s shoulder. She could feel the violent tremors shaking his broad frame.
"They didn't just try to kill me," Arthur whispered, his voice cracking with a terrifying rage. "They planned to dance on my grave while spending my money."
He slammed his laptop shut. "Sarah, find me a physical therapist. Someone discreet. Someone who doesn't ask questions."
May you like
"Arthur, the doctors said—"
"I don't care what the doctors said!" Arthur roared, slamming his fists into his lifeless thighs. "I am not going to let them win. I will walk back into my boardroom, and I will destroy them both."
