THE SECRET OF THE HENDERSON EMPIRE
Marcus stared at the photograph.
It had been taken that very morning.
Someone was watching Julianne.
Someone close enough to photograph the inside of her estate.
He immediately grabbed his phone and called the number Eleanor had given him.
No answer.
Seconds later, his phone buzzed.
A text message appeared.
Don't call. They're listening.
A second message followed.
Take the first flight to Zurich. Come alone.
Marcus didn't hesitate.
Two hours later, his plane was in the air.
* * *
Meanwhile, in Switzerland...
Julianne and her father sat across from each other in a private security room.
Neither of them had touched the coffee in front of them.
There were too many unanswered questions.
Richard finally broke the silence.
"I owe you the truth."
Julianne nodded.
"Start with the day you disappeared."
Richard took a deep breath.
"I discovered that Henderson Global wasn't built through honest business."
"It was built through blackmail... political corruption... and murder."
Julianne felt her stomach tighten.
"I gathered enough evidence to expose everyone involved."
"But before I could hand it to the authorities..."
"...someone betrayed me."
"They staged my death."
"They erased my identity."
"For fifteen years, I've been hiding."
Julianne looked at him in disbelief.
"Who betrayed you?"
Richard slowly reached into his jacket.
He removed a faded photograph.
It showed six powerful executives standing together at a charity gala.
Five of the faces were crossed out in red.
All five were dead.
Only one face remained untouched.
Richard placed his finger on it.
"This man."
"He's the real founder of everything."
Julianne looked closely.
Her heart nearly stopped.
She recognized him immediately.
He wasn't a politician.
He wasn't a criminal on any public record.
He was the respected philanthropist who had attended her wedding...
and later comforted her during her divorce.
William Henderson.
Marcus's grandfather.
The man everyone believed had retired years ago.
At that exact moment, a security alarm echoed through the estate.
INTRUDER DETECTED.
The head of security ran into the room.
"Mrs. Henderson!"
"We've lost all camera feeds!"
Before anyone could react...
Every light in the estate went out.
The room fell into complete darkness.
Then a calm voice echoed through the emergency speakers.
"Good evening, Julianne."
"You've spent fifteen years looking for your father."
"Now..."
"...let's see if you can keep him."
TO BE CONTINUED...
