The Recording
Chapter 13 - The Recording
Victor's confidence disappeared.
Adrian had never seen him afraid before.
Victor moved toward Ethan.
"You fool."
Ethan stepped back.
"Too late."
Marcus had already transmitted the cabin audio to an attorney in Chicago.
But Ethan had planned something bigger.
For years, he had quietly copied financial files linking Victor to shell companies, bribery, fraud, and the suspicious payment made after their father's plane crash.
The evidence had been delivered to federal investigators that morning.
Victor looked at Adrian.
"You'll destroy your own company."
"Maybe."
"Thousands of employees."
"I'll protect them."
"Your reputation?"
Adrian shook his head.
"I'd rather lose a company than lose my brother twice."
Victor stared at him.
Outside, sirens appeared in the distance.
Victor walked slowly toward the door.
Then stopped.
"You're making a mistake."
Adrian replied quietly.
"No."
"My mistake was trusting you."
Federal agents arrived minutes later.
Victor Hale was taken into custody.
But justice did not arrive as neatly as Adrian expected.
The investigation immediately froze several corporate accounts.
News channels exploded with headlines.
Cole Capital shares collapsed.
Board members resigned.
Clients withdrew billions.
Within forty-eight hours, Adrian's empire was close to falling apart.
Reporters surrounded every property he owned.
And then another story appeared online.
THE SECRET HOMELESS HEIR OF BILLIONAIRE ADRIAN COLE.
Someone had leaked photographs of Noah singing on the sidewalk.
Rachel became furious.
"You promised to protect him."
"I didn't leak anything."
"Then who did?"
Adrian opened the article.
The source was anonymous.
But one detail made his blood run cold.
May you like
The story claimed Noah might not actually be Ethan's son.
And it announced that someone had already requested a court-ordered DNA test.
