Chapter 11 - The Day Leo Was Born
An anonymous email arrived while Marcus sat beside Leo's crib.
Subject: AMELIA WAS RIGHT.
Attached was an old photo of Grant, Dr. Keller, and Victoria in a hospital parking garage.
The date was the day Leo was born.
Two years before Marcus said he met Victoria.
The file carried Amelia's old cloud tag.
Rachel used it to unlock a hidden archive.
Inside was a voice memo.
"Victoria Serrano keeps asking about family trust structures," Amelia said. "That has nothing to do with the security breach she was hired to manage. I told Marcus. He thinks I'm exhausted. Maybe I am. But she is asking the wrong questions."
Marcus remembered Amelia mentioning a consultant she disliked.
He had told her to rest.
He had never asked the woman's name.
"I could've listened," he whispered.
Elena looked at him. "Yes."
She did not soften it.
That was why Amelia had trusted her.
The archive also contained financial transfers from Victoria's company to Keller and Grant.
Then Brooks found a document labeled CONTINUITY.
It described what would happen if Marcus became "emotionally or legally impaired."
Grant's company would control the trust.
Victoria would control Leo.
Northline would control the public story.
The plan had been drafted before Amelia died.
Marcus stared at the date.
"They were planning my breakdown while my wife was still alive."
Rachel turned the page.
At the bottom was a fourth name.
May you like
Thomas Hale.
Marcus's older brother.
