Chapter 4 - The Ledger in the Study
By two o'clock in the morning, Ethan sat behind the massive mahogany desk in his ground-floor library. A single desk lamp illuminated his pale, tired features as he reviewed a stack of yellowed land deeds and family trust documents.
The heavy oak doors opened, and Victoria walked in, escorted by Thomas. She had smoothed her purple dress, but her eyes were red-rimmed and hollow with exhaustion.
Ethan didn't look up immediately. He finished signing a legal directive before setting his pen down with deliberate precision.
ETHAN: "My father died twelve years ago, Victoria. I’ve owned this house for a decade. How did I never know about a sub-basement under the main hall?"
Victoria sat down stiffly on the leather sofa across from the desk, her hands clasped tightly in her lap.
VICTORIA: "Your father was a paranoid man, Ethan. He built safe rooms across all three of our international properties."
Ethan leaned forward over the desk, his piercing blue eyes locking onto his mother with cold, unyielding authority.
ETHAN: "Safe rooms don't hold children who recognize my voice, Victoria."
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Victoria turned her head away, her lip trembling slightly as she looked out at the rain-slicked window glass.
VICTORIA: "You don't understand the promises that were made to keep this family wealthy, Ethan."
