Chapter 7 - MARCUS’S CONFESSION
Arthur reached the guest property forty minutes later.
Marcus sat at the kitchen table.
His shirt was torn.
His face was bruised.
Maya stood across the room with Elena and Lucas.
Arthur immediately looked at them.
“Are you okay?”
Maya nodded.
“Mr. Marcus warned us before the men arrived.”
Arthur turned.
Marcus looked exhausted.
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“For my family.”
Arthur pulled out a chair.
“Start talking.”
Marcus placed a small black notebook on the table.
Victoria inhaled sharply.
“The ledger.”
Marcus nodded.
Arthur opened it.
The first page contained coded initials.
Dates.
Amounts.
Companies.
Daniel examined it.
“This could connect everything.”
Marcus shook his head.
“It connects more than you think.”
For the next hour, he explained the Ashford empire.
Charles had spent decades building influence through favors.
Campaign donations.
Secret loans.
Fake consulting contracts.
He collected secrets.
Then used those secrets to control people.
When someone resisted, Charles ruined them financially.
Sometimes professionally.
Sometimes personally.
Arthur asked, “Why steal this now?”
Marcus looked toward Maya.
“Because I saw what Victoria did.”
Victoria stiffened.
Marcus continued.
“I knew what Dad would do.”
“He’d protect her?”
“No.”
“He’d use it.”
Arthur frowned.
Marcus explained.
Charles had already planned to portray Maya as a disgruntled employee.
He intended to accuse her family of financial fraud using the companies registered under Rosa’s identity.
Maya’s face went white.
“My mother?”
Marcus nodded.
“He was going to make it look like your mother stole from Ashford Residential.”
Maya covered her mouth.
Arthur’s expression became deadly calm.
Marcus looked ashamed.
“I couldn’t let him do it again.”
“Again?”
Marcus nodded.
“Evelyn Price.”
Arthur stared at him.
“You knew?”
“I was seventeen.”
“I heard Dad discussing it.”
“And you said nothing.”
Marcus lowered his head.
“No.”
Arthur closed the ledger.
“Then you’ve had twenty years to decide what kind of man you are.”
Marcus accepted the judgment.
“Yes.”
Arthur looked toward the children.
“You can start deciding tonight.”
Marcus nodded.
“I will testify.”
Victoria turned toward him.
“Marcus—”
“No.”
He looked at his sister.
“We’re done protecting him.”
Victoria’s eyes filled with fear.
“You know what Dad will do.”
Marcus answered quietly.
“Yes.”
“That’s why we need to stop him.”
Suddenly Rachel entered.
“We have a problem.”
Everyone looked toward her.
She placed her phone on the table.
A news article filled the screen.
STERLING DEVELOPMENT CEO ACCUSED OF MASSIVE FINANCIAL FRAUD.
Arthur stared at it.
The story had been published seven minutes earlier.
It claimed Arthur had secretly diverted millions through shell companies.
The evidence included documents carrying his digital signature.
Daniel swore under his breath.
Marcus whispered, “Dad.”
Arthur kept reading.
Then another notification appeared.
Sterling Development shares were falling.
Another.
Two investors suspended negotiations.
Another.
A lender requested an emergency review.
Victoria stared at Arthur.
“My father told you he would destroy you.”
Arthur locked the phone.
“Yes.”
Marcus looked worried.
“What are you going to do?”
Arthur looked at the ledger.
Then at Maya.
Then at Victoria.
“He wants a public war.”
Arthur stood.
May you like
“Fine.”
“Tomorrow morning, he gets one.”
