Chapter 8 - The Man Behind The Door
The east wing was dark.
Marcus walked slowly through the hallway.
Every step brought back memories.
Victor’s office was exactly the same.
The same desk.
The same books.
The same photograph of their family.
But Victor was standing there.
Alive.
Older.
Different.
Marcus stopped at the doorway.
Neither brother spoke.
For five seconds, the world disappeared.
Then Marcus whispered:
“Why?”
Victor looked at him.
“Hello, little brother.”
Marcus’s jaw tightened.
“You let me bury you.”
Victor smiled sadly.
“You never buried me.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means you buried the version of me everyone wanted to believe.”
Marcus stepped forward.
“You destroyed this family.”
Victor laughed.
“No.”
He looked around the office.
“This family destroyed itself.”
Detective Sarah entered.
“Victor Whitmore, you are under investigation.”
Victor didn’t move.
Instead, he looked at Elena.
“She told you everything?”
Elena remained silent.
Marcus noticed.
“You two were working together.”
Victor smiled.
“At first.”
Marcus frowned.
“At first?”
Victor looked at Elena.
“She betrayed me too.”
Elena’s eyes widened.
“Don’t.”
Marcus looked between them.
“What is going on?”
Victor walked toward the desk.
“The documents Elena stole weren’t about money.”
He opened a drawer.
Inside was a small envelope.
Marcus stared.
“What is that?”
Victor handed it to him.
“Proof.”
Marcus opened it.
His face changed.
Inside were old documents.
Birth records.
Medical reports.
And one name circled in red.
Marcus looked up slowly.
“What is this?”
Victor said quietly:
“The truth about who really owns Whitmore Enterprises.”
The room became silent.
Then Victor added:
May you like
“And why our father never wanted you to know.”
Marcus felt the ground disappear beneath him.
