Chapter 12 - Before Arthur
Arthur returned to his father's old house.
Julia came with him.
Renata stayed with Daniel.
Inside the attic, Arthur found boxes untouched for decades.
Birth certificates.
Business contracts.
Letters.
Then Julia found a photograph.
Arthur's father stood beside another man.
The name was Samuel Hale.
Victor's father.
Arthur stared.
His father had known Victor's family long before the business dispute.
A letter explained everything.
Arthur's father had partnered with Samuel.
They built the company together.
Then Samuel became obsessed with expansion.
He began stealing from clients.
Arthur's father tried to expose him.
Samuel threatened him.
Arthur's father ended the partnership.
Samuel swore revenge.
Years later, Victor inherited the hatred.
Arthur sat down.
“This started before I was born.”
Julia nodded.
Arthur found another letter.
It was addressed to him.
His father wrote:
If Samuel's family ever comes after you, protect Julia first. She will understand what you cannot yet see.
Arthur looked at Julia.
“You knew?”
“No.”
“Then why did you forgive me?”
Julia smiled sadly.
“Because Dad told me something before he died.”
“What?”
“He said you weren't cruel. You were afraid.”
Arthur closed his eyes.
For the first time, he understood his own life differently.
He had spent decades becoming harder because he thought hardness kept people safe.
It had only made him easier to manipulate.
Then Daniel called.
“Arthur.”
“What?”
“Victor's lawyer filed something.”
“What?”
“A claim against the company.”
Arthur frowned.
“Victor is in custody.”
“His lawyers say he still controls assets.”
Arthur stood.
“How?”
Daniel's voice dropped.
“Through someone inside your company.”
May you like
Arthur's face hardened.
👉 Victor's arrest had not ended the conspiracy—the final betrayal was coming from inside Arthur's own company.
