Chapter 4 - Whispers Behind Velvet
Ethan instinctively shoved Lily behind the wooden crate, his right hand slipping inside his coat to grip a concealable ceramic blade. The footsteps were rhythmic, unhurried, devoid of the panic that accompanied Victoria’s hired mercenaries.
A beam of halogen light cut through the cobwebs, sweeping past Ethan’s polished shoes before tilting toward the ceiling to avoid blinding him.
""You always did prefer the cellar rats' paths, Ethan,"" a deep, weary voice echoed down the iron steps.
The man who stepped into view wore an ash-gray overcoat over a tailored waistcoat, his silver hair cropped close, an unlit cigar clamped between his teeth. It was Marcus Vance—Ethan’s uncle, the patriarch's oldest surviving advisor, and the chairman who supposedly signed the eviction papers against Lily's mother three years ago.
""Marcus,"" Ethan said, his voice hard as flint, blade remaining unsheathed. ""You chose a dangerous night to visit the estate. Julian is upstairs with a smoking gun, and Victoria's private security is turning the dining hall into a slaughterhouse.""
""Those aren't Victoria’s men upstairs,"" Marcus said calmly, flicking a solid gold lighter to spark his cigar. The flame illuminated the deep scars across his jaw. ""Those are mine. I cleared the room two minutes ago. Victoria is currently zip-tied to her precious golden banquet chair, vomiting expensive caviar.""
Lily peeked around Ethan’s hip, her eyes wide with caution. Marcus glanced down at the girl, his harsh expression softening for a fraction of a second before hardening into granite again.
""She has her father's eyes,"" Marcus muttered. ""And her mother's stubbornness. She shouldn't be here, Ethan.""
""She is the rightful heir,"" Ethan stated, stepping forward. ""The entire North Trust belongs to her. You signed her away to protect the board’s share price.""
""I signed her away to keep her alive!"" Marcus suddenly snapped, his voice booming against the stone arches. ""Look around you! The moment your brother died, Victoria wasn't working alone. She was the front for the Syndicate in Macau. They wanted the Vance shipping docks to move untracked cargo through the eastern seaboard. If they knew Lily was breathing, they wouldn't have just evicted her mother—they would have thrown her into an industrial furnace!""
Lily shrank back against Ethan's leg. Ethan placed a protective palm over her head, his eyes narrowing at his uncle.
""And now?"" Ethan questioned. ""Why intervene tonight?""
Marcus exhaled a thick cloud of blue-gray smoke, his eyes darkening. ""Because Victoria sold the controlling shares an hour ago. The buyer isn't in Macau. The buyer's signature on the digital transfer... is yours, Ethan.""
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Ethan went completely still. ""I signed nothing.""
""I know,"" Marcus said grimly, reaching into his overcoat and pulling out an encrypted tablet. ""Which means whoever is impersonating your biometric clearance is inside this house right now—and they just authorized the execution of every living Vance in this room.""
