Chapter 10 - The Vault in the Archive
By four o'clock that afternoon, rain pounded heavily against the roof of the mansion as Ethan and Julian descended the narrow stone stairwell together.
The cool air in the sub-basement felt heavier now, filled with the quiet tension between the two men.
Julian walked directly to the third glass display case on the left wall, pulling a small silver key from his vest pocket.
JULIAN: "Your father didn't just build this room to hide records, Ethan. He built it to protect your family from the syndicate that financed his early shipping acquisitions."
Ethan stood behind him, his muscular frame squared, his eyes watching every subtle movement Julian made.
ETHAN: "And where does Sarah fit into this?"
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Julian unlocked the glass case, pulling out a thick blue binder embossed with the crest of a Swiss private bank.
JULIAN: "Sarah wasn't just your wife, Ethan. She was the chief auditor sent by the Swiss board to inspect your father's holdings before they approved his final trust expansion."
