Ethan didn't go far.When he left the dining room, the air outside felt heavy and stifling. Thoughts of the symbol gave him problems. He leaned against the railing, gazing out over the dark waters. His mind raced through the evening’s events, his plan unraveling faster than he had anticipated. The reactions to the tree symbol had been more revealing than he could have hoped—each guest’s discomfort hinted at deeper secrets.This was his plan. Ethan patiently waited for each of them to come to him. A slow smile spread around his face. Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows. It was curvy. Realizing who that was, Ethan's smile slipped off. It was Sandra Walton. As her facial expression was revealed under the lights, her earlier confidence was replaced by an uneasy expression.She approached Ethan, her voice low. “Ethan, I need to talk to you. It’s important.”Ethan cleared his throat. He had been waiting for this moment. He just hoped it was related to the letter or something that co
Mark raised his hands. “I still have something to say.”Everyone groaned, and Sandra lost her temper. “Okay, that's it. Just shut up, Mark. Not everyone needs your opinion.”“I was going to say that I saw that symbol somewhere.”Ethan froze and slowly turned to Mark. “What did you just say?”Mark shrugged and picked up a bottle of wine from the floor. “I said, I did see...”Sandra rolled her eyes. “Ethan, have you forgotten that we have thirteen people upstairs waiting for your speech? They need to get this boat moving!”“It’s a yacht, Sandra,” Gerald mocked with delight.“Potato, potato,” she retorted, climbing the short stairs back. Halfway up, she stopped. “Everyone should be upstairs in five minutes! I am done with all of you acting like children instead of heirs.” With that, she huffed and puffed her way upstairs.Ethan nodded, waving for everyone to leave except Mark. “Mark, stay behind, and Paul, you too.” This was in case Mark wanted to try something terrible. Paul was there f
A spy? Ethan's eyes widened. “How do you know she works for me?”Mark scratched the back of his head. “Well, she's wearing the signal of the House of Anderson as a headband.”It was true. Ethan noticed the image of a fierce lion on her headband. “So you recognized her with that. Was she wearing it that day too?”Mark nodded. “Yes, she was.”“Why didn't you call for help or something?”“I thought she was sent by you, and when I tried to confront her, she set the room ablaze. You know what happened after that.”Ethan stood akimbo. He couldn't believe his ears. “You are an important person, Mr. Mark David. You have a seat on the board, and your words are usually acknowledged more than Rachel's. Why do you keep acting like you aren't one of us?” It baffled Ethan why the man kept acting like he was inferior. “You could have told me.”Mark gave him a nervous laugh. “Mr. Ethan! I do that out of respect. I know I can never measure up to the houses. Moreover, Rachel shuts me up.”“Nonsense!” E
Jason regarded him wearily. He didn't seem to be part of his men because they knew how to be quiet. He must be new, and Jason knew they weren't hiring. “Who the hell are you?”The man stepped forward from the crowd, his face grim. “I’m Alex,” he said. “I’m the one who found him. I was on patrol when I discovered him in an abandoned place a few miles from here.”Jason turned to his men. “Is that so? Was he really patrolling, or did he drop him there?”The three men nodded, and one of them spoke. “We didn't see him drop the body. Roland was already weak.”“Why was he there?”Alex shrugged, his expression unreadable. “I don’t know. By the time I got to him, he was barely alive. I tried to get him help, but it was too late.”“How come you are bruised?” Jason was still suspicious. He didn't dare to trust anyone.Alex chuckled nervously. “Ah, this?” He gestured to his body. “It's nothing.” When he saw that Jason wasn't buying his cuteness, he frowned. “I fell into a ditch.”“You fell into a
The old man’s hands were tightly bound, and he felt them go numb as he was pushed into a large cage. “You promised I’d be free,” he said through clenched teeth.“I can’t let you go,” Kenji snapped back. “When you mentioned the name Anderson, I realized I had to keep you here. I’m the Mafia boss of this crew.”“You tricked me,” the old man spat. “Why?”“Because it benefits me,” Kenji replied, his voice cold. “You could be worth a lot of money. Ready to negotiate?”The old man swallowed hard, feeling trapped. Ethan had told him he could buy his freedom with money. But the old man was up to something. He was here for a reason, and he wouldn't let it go to waste. “I work for Ethan Anderson. If you think using me to get to him is a good idea, you’re making a mistake. He won’t be easy to deal with.”Kenji’s face hardened. “That’s not my problem. I’m interested in what you’re worth.”The old man took a deep breath. “You want money? Fine. But you’ll need to understand that Ethan doesn’t deal
Ethan was aghast. The security footage was missing. It could only mean one thing—someone among them had taken it.“If you visited the security room, to the left, If you didn't, to the right.”Everyone began to grumble, moving left and right. As the guests shuffled to the left or right, Ethan kept a sharp eye on the room. He tried to pick out anything unusual. He scanned their faces, their clothing, and their mannerisms like hawks, hoping to catch the slightest hint of anyone who didn't belong. Beside him, Rachel and Paul moved closer to him, joining in the scrutiny. Their eyes darted from person to person.“Keep a sharp eye out,” Ethan instructed, his voice low. “Remember, someone here is behind all this.” Just then, his gaze fell on a figure moving awkwardly, trying too hard to blend in. It was a woman dressed in what appeared to be a maid’s uniform. Her hair was hidden beneath a bonnet, and her face was covered with heavy makeup. The outfit was clearly an attempt to blend in as a se
Ethan's mind raced as he stared at the man before him, disheveled and trembling. The revelation of a man disguised as a maid sent ripples of confusion and alarm through the room. The guests, huddled together, exchanged frantic whispers, their eyes wide with shock. Ethan, however, forced himself to remain calm, his instincts as a leader kicking in. He needed answers, and fast.The man, now stripped of his disguise, looked up at Ethan with a mix of fear and defiance. His face, once obscured by heavy makeup, was now a patchwork of smeared foundation and sweat, revealing sharp features beneath. His eyes darted around the room like a cornered animal, searching for any escape. But there was none. The guests had formed a makeshift barrier, their fear palpable but their curiosity stronger."Who are you?" Ethan's voice was firm, leaving no room for evasion. "And why were you pretending to be a maid?"The man swallowed hard, his throat bobbing nervously. For a moment, it seemed as though he mig
Jason returned to the woman, trying to mask the fury that still bubbled beneath his skin. The delicate balance of power he maintained with his victims was something he cherished, and Mark's incompetence threatened to shatter it. The woman's gaze met his as she tried to read his expression, but he quickly replaced his irritation with a disarming smile."Where were we?" he repeated, sliding back into his seat beside her. He placed his hand on her thigh once more, the gesture meant to reestablish control, but his mind was elsewhere, still racing with thoughts of Mark’s failure. He couldn’t afford to let loose ends linger, not when they could jeopardize everything he had carefully built.The woman leaned closer, her voice a soft murmur, "You seemed upset. Is everything okay?"Jason forced a laugh, running a hand through his hair. "Just business, sweetheart. Nothing you need to worry about." He leaned in and kissed her neck lightly, tasting the cheap perfume she wore. It was a sickly sweet