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Sinclair's Lost Heir[The Rise Of The Betrayed Son-in-law] CHAPTER 28
Ethan's POV “Ethan, you might want to sit down for this,” Jordan’s voice crackled through the speakerphone. “It’s bad. And getting worse.” I didn’t sit. I leaned forward against my desk at the Sinclair estate’s study, pen still in hand, documents scattered like puzzle pieces before me. “How bad?” “Hale Pharmaceuticals is on the verge of collapse. Full-blown financial hemorrhage. Their investors are rattled, and word’s starting to leak.” I paused. My grip on the pen tightened. “How the hell did this happen so fast?” “Pride, mostly,” Jordan said, almost laughing. “You're aware that the Hales had earlier sought a merger with Sinclair Biotech right? That was the reason they had found their way to the Sinclair’s annual gala.” “I remember. They must have scoffed at the idea the second they found out I’d be running Sinclair after him.” I sat back slowly, a small smile playing on my lips. “Richard myst have thought that proceeding with the merger would have been humiliating to them I su
Sinclair's Lost Heir[The Rise Of The Betrayed Son-in-law] CHAPTER 29
Vanessa’s POV The boardroom was a pressure cooker, the air thick with unspoken accusations and simmering tensions. Sunlight streamed through the expansive windows, casting long shadows over the polished mahogany table where Hale Pharmaceuticals' future hung in the balance.My father, sat at the helm, his expression a mask of controlled fury. To his right, my brother Nathan shifted uncomfortably, his usual bravado noticeably absent. I occupied the seat to Richard's left, my notepad open but untouched, bracing for the storm about to break.The shareholders, a mix of seasoned investors and newer stakeholders, exchanged uneasy glances. The recent scandal had shaken their confidence, and the cracks in our foundation were beginning to show.Mr. Langley, a senior shareholder with a penchant for bluntness, broke the silence. "Richard, this debacle has left us exposed. The media is relentless, and our stock is in freefall."Father's jaw tightened, his knuckles whitening as he gripped the tabl
Sinclair's Lost Heir[The Rise Of The Betrayed Son-in-law] CHAPTER 30
Ethan’s POV “You bought what?” Jordan’s voice cracked through the encrypted line like a whip when I told him that I had bought all the shares put up for sale by Hale subsidiaries. I grinned into the phone, leaned back in my leather chair at the Sinclair estate study. “Every last share they threw to the market. Through a private broker in Dubai. The entire subsidiary is mine now.”“You’re playing God now, huh?” he muttered. “You do realize the Hales are going to freak when they find out they just sold a piece of their empire to their worst nightmare?”I chuckled, low and slow. “That’s the idea.”“You’ve got guts, I’ll give you that. But what the hell are you planning to do with this new toy?”“Use it, Jordan. Every locked door they thought I couldn’t open, I now have the keys. Internal communications, supply chains, financial records—everything.”“Damn. You really pulled this off.”“I told you,” I said, opening a secure email I just received from the broker. “Patience, power, and a p
Sinclair's Lost Heir[The Rise Of The Betrayed Son-in-law] CHAPTER 31
Ethan’s POV The sky was a perfect shade of blue, the kind that made everything feel like it was going according to plan.The countryside estate was beautiful, and for a moment, it almost felt like I could leave all the chaos behind. The property was vast rolling green hills stretching as far as the eye could see. It was everything I needed: it was perfect for a retreat, just far enough from the city to offer peace but close enough to make any business dealings possible. "Mr. Sinclair, we are here." The driver’s voice broke me from my thoughts. I nodded, checking my watch. I stepped out of the car, adjusting my suit jacket, and surveyed the estate. The property was in pristine condition, with freshly mowed lawns and towering trees surrounding a beautiful colonial style house. My grandfather’s birthday was coming up soon, I wanted to give him a befiting present for his birthday and retirement. "Everything looks good," I muttered to myself, walking toward the agent who had been show
Sinclair's Lost Heir[The Rise Of The Betrayed Son-in-law] CHAPTER 32
Ethan’s POV“You want me to what?” Lionel’s voice crackled through the speakerphone, laced with disbelief.“Bid the stock prices low, Lionel. As low as legally possible,” I said, leaning back into the leather of my chair, fingers drumming on the glass table. “Push them so far into a corner they’ll have no option but to sell.”“Christ, Ethan, they’re already gasping for breath. You want to drown them while they’re still conscious?”“Yes.”He exhaled, a breath that told me he was still trying to wrap his head around it. “You do know Richard Hale isn’t the type to let things go quietly, right? If they find out you’re the one buying...”“They won’t,” I cut him off. “That’s why I have you. I’m just a ghost in the shadows, until it is time.”“And what exactly do you gain from pissing them off this bad?” he asked, a little chuckle in his voice.“You mean besides satisfaction?” I said. “The look on Nathan’s face when he realizes the very companies they sold to survive would eventually belong
Sinclair's Lost Heir[The Rise Of The Betrayed Son-in-law] CHAPTER 33
Ethan’s POV “Ethan, you need to sit for this.”I froze just as I reached for my phone on the coffee table. Jordan never used that tone unless it was big. Life-altering big.“Talk to me,” I said, pacing to the window as my fingers tightened around the phone. “What did you find?”“Your hunch was dead-on. Nathan’s not just behind the pills I traced. He’s personally supplying a private circle of elite clients with high-grade narcotics. Cocaine. Fentanyl. Shipped through a chain of fake wellness brands—all tied back to an upscale club downtown. ‘Lavish Red.’ Ring a bell?”I exhaled. “Of course it would be a club. How poetic of him.”“There’s more,” Davis said, voice sharper now. “He’s planning a personal drop-off. Tonight. Midnight. A private VIP lounge. I’ve intercepted texts—he’ll be there with the stuff.”“You’re sure?”“Do I ever call unless I’m sure?”I couldn’t help the grin tugging at the corner of my lips. “No. You don’t.”“Address is 322 Bellerose Street. I’ve already got camera
Sinclair's Lost Heir[The Rise Of The Betrayed Son-in-law] CHAPTER 34
Ethan’s POVShe flushed, the embarrassment spreading rapidly over her cheeks like spilled wine. “No... I didn’t... God, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have touched you. I really shouldn’t have.”I raised a brow, more amused than annoyed. “You were kissing me, Olivia. You call that checking for a pulse?”She covered her face with both hands, muffling her groan. “Don’t make fun of me. I swear, I didn’t come here for that. I knocked, you didn’t answer, the door was unlocked, and... and you looked so peaceful. I got carried away.”Peaceful.Was that how I looked? Like a man who didn’t have enemies trying to kill him? A man who hadn’t orchestrated the takedown of a criminal empire?“You saw the news?” I asked, my tone sobering. “Nathan’s arrest?”She nodded quickly, her hands dropping. “It’s everywhere. They said he was caught red-handed at some elite club with a stash of hard drugs. And you... you’re just sleeping through it all...”“I already knew it was coming,” I said, brushing a hand through
Sinclair's Lost Heir[The Rise Of The Betrayed Son-in-law] CHAPTER 35
Vanessa’s POV "Do you realize what this means, Vanessa?!" My father's voice thundered through the marble-floored living room, bouncing off the walls like a ricocheting bullet. I didn’t flinch. I’d grown used to his shouting—especially when things didn’t go his way. He jabbed his phone on the coffee table so hard I feared it would shatter. "Nathan is rotting in a holding cell and I can’t find a single damn lawyer who’s willing to take this case!" "Maybe," I said quietly, "they're just afraid of being associated with a sinking ship." He spun to me like a storm. "You think this is funny?" "Did I laugh?" "Don't play smart with me, Vanessa. This isn't the time." "Then when is the time, Dad? When the cops storm Hale Pharmaceuticals? Or when the SEC tears into our offshore accounts?" He ran his fingers through his thinning hair and resumed pacing. “Goddamn it! Where the hell is Raymond?” Raymond was his long-time fixer. If anyone could’ve pulled us out of this mess, it was him. But
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CHAPTER 51
Ethan’s POV "Pick up the damn phone, Olivia," I muttered under my breath, pacing the living room like a caged animal. I pressed the device harder against my ear, as if sheer force could will her to answer. Another voicemail. Another dead end."Fine," I snapped at the silence, yanking the phone from my ear and staring at the blank screen like it had personally betrayed me. "Ignore me, then. See if I care."I tossed the phone onto the coffee table, the clatter slicing through the heavy stillness of the room. For a moment, I just stood there, breathing hard, hands curled into fists at my sides.Why should I care? She wasn't answering. Big deal.Maybe she was busy. Maybe she finally realized what a bastard I was.Good for her.Wasn't that what I wanted? To push her away before she could get too close?Hadn't I made that crystal clear the last time we met, spitting venom just to watch her flinch?I sank down onto the leather sofa, scrubbing a hand over my face.But what if she wasn’t just
CHAPTER 50
Ethan’s POV “Are you sure you want to do this?” Jordan’s voice crackled through the secure line. “Because once this gets out, there’s no going back.” “No one burns my house and walks away,” I said flatly, gripping the edge of my desk. “Let it burn them instead.”“You’ll be starting a war.”“I didn’t start it. The Hales did the moment they tried to ruin me.”Silence on the other end. Then a slow exhale.“Alright. The files are ready. Everything you asked for—bank transfers, offshore accounts, distribution routes, and the tapes from the warehouse surveillance.”I closed my eyes for a second, letting the gravity of it wash over me. “Send the package anonymously to the District Prosecutor,” I said. “Make sure it can not be traced back to me.” “Already handled. By tonight, the press will be begging for statements.”“Good,” I muttered, staring at the framed photo of myself on the shelf. “Let them watch it burn.” The call ended. It was only a matter of hours before the news spread like
CHAPTER 49
Vanessa’s POV “Of course it’s Nathan’s,” he scoffed, waving the packet. “That brother of yours really comes in handy when you need an alibi, doesn’t he?”“Goodness, Collins, what is wrong with you?” I took a step back, robe clutched tight, trying to gather what little dignity I had left.“Wrong with me?” He laughed, but there was no humor in it. “I’m not the one playing house in a silk robe with mystery condoms on the floor.”“Nathan brought his junk here, trashed the place, and I’ve been trying to get everything back in order. That’s it. I’m tired. I haven’t even eaten today.”“You want me to believe that?” His voice dropped, low and dangerous. “Then prove it.”My jaw tightened. “Prove it how?”He stepped closer. Too close. “Let me touch you. Right here. Right now.”My breath caught. “What?”“You’re so innocent, right?” he said, pressing a hand against the wall behind me, trapping me. “Then let me touch what’s mine.”“We’re not doing this.” I shoved at his chest, but he didn’t budge
CHAPTER 48
Vanessa’s POV Tired of the whole drama, I slammed the door behind Nathan and his pathetic entourage, locking it with more force than necessary. The bass from the now-silenced speakers still thudded inside my skull, a cruel echo of the madness I had just evicted. Drunk girls with smudged mascara and glittered heels had been stumbling over my Persian rug like it was a damn runway. Nathan, high out of his mind, had laughed at thin air, drooling over the same chaos he dragged in. My home, my place if solace, had turned into a drug-fueled circus in a matter of hours.“Why do I even let him back in?” I muttered aloud, tightening my silk robe around me. “Because he’s my brother? Or because somewhere in my deranged heart I think he’ll change?”Maybe I was the deluded one. Always hoping. Always giving him another chance. But I was done. Done playing mother, fixer, savior.I needed to cleanse every ounce of that filth. I needed a bath, something hot enough to scald off Nathan’s stench from my
CHAPTER 47
Vanessa’s POV As I stepped into the foyer, the sharp thump of bass-heavy music slammed into my ears like a slap to the face. My heel paused mid-step. That sound... it was coming from the west wing. The west wing? That place hadn’t seen life in years.“Who the hell is playing music in there?!” I hissed aloud, my voice slicing through the silence of the hall like a whip.My fingers curled tighter around my clutch, jaw clenched and body tense. Which one of the staff had lost their damn mind? That wing was sacred. Deserted. Locked down. No one went in there. Not unless they wanted to face my wrath.“Have the maids gone stupid? Or just suicidal?” I snapped under my breath, heels stabbing furiously into the marble tiles as I advanced. Each echo of my steps was a countdown.The closer I got, the more the bass trembled through the walls. Rap music, filthy lyrics, distorted and booming with disrespect. My fists balled up.“I swear, if this is someone’s idea of a joke, they won’t live to tell
CHAPTER 46
Vanessa’s POV I had just returned home from seeing Ethan, an experience I would rather not recount to anyone.I sat in my car, parked just outside the house like the marble driveway suddenly demanded my respect. My fingers were still trembling around the steering wheel, nails digging into the leather as if the wheel had wronged me. I couldn’t go inside. Not yet. Not while my heart was still stuck in that cold, heartless office where he’d looked at me like I was filth.“He hates me,” I whispered under my breath, my voice cracking. “He really... hates me.”I tilted my head back against the headrest, blinking away the sting in my eyes. I hadn’t cried when he yelled. Not when he called security. Not even when he spat the word trash like it belonged to me. But now, alone in the quiet bubble of my car, it hit differently.“Who wouldn’t?” I muttered, scoffing bitterly at myself. “I practically destroyed the one person who actually loved me.”He loved me once. I know he did. There was no way
CHAPTER 45
Ethan’s POV Lost in thoughts, the ring from my phone snapped me back into consciousness of my surroundings. I picked it up. It was Jordan.“Good day Ethan.”I really hoped there were goods left in my day today.“Good day, Jordan. What do you have for me today?”“They’re laundering money through a ghost company, Ethan. One that supposedly shut down over thirty years ago.”“What?” I straightened in my seat, pulse spiking. “Say that again.”“A shell corporation. Called Bellemore Industries. Disbanded on paper in ’92. But a few bank records show it’s very much alive. Just—operating from the shadows. Massive offshore transfers. Cayman Islands. Liechtenstein. You name it.”“And you’re sure the Hales are behind this?”“Positive. I followed the money trail, and guess where it leads?” Jordan paused dramatically. “A building owned by none other than Richard Hale. Bought under the alias ‘Carl Donovan.’”I shot up from my chair, heart pounding against my ribs. “An alias?”“Yeah. He used a dead m
CHAPTER 44
Ethan’s POV About an hour or so after Vanessa left, my office still reeked of her lies.I sat slouched in my chair, elbow on the desk, staring at the untouched espresso Clara had brought me earlier. The steam had died, and so had the appetite for anything that resembled normalcy. If chaos had a scent, it was the lingering perfume mix of two women who should’ve never have crossed paths in my life again. Or so I believed. “God,” I muttered, rubbing my temple. “What a mess…”What was I even doing?Trying to breathe in the ruins of a Monday morning that had started with Olivia’s broken heart and ended with Vanessa’s crocodile tears on my floor. How the hell did it get here? My life was spiraling like a damn soap opera I didn’t audition for.The one thing I was thankful for?My grandfather wasn’t around to witness that train wreck.He would’ve raised his brow, cocked his head to the side, and muttered something like, “I built a legacy and left you an empire, and this is how you run it? B
CHAPTER 43
Ethan’s POV “I’m here because I made a mistake,” she said, voice low now, like honey dripping through a cracked spoon. “I messed up, Ethan. But it wasn’t all my fault, I didn’t mean to. You know it wasn’t.” “Don’t you dare,” I warned.She ignored me, charging forward with her twisted, delusional gospel. “They forced me to do it! My family, my father, he hated you. You know that. You saw what they were capable of, I was also being manipulated.” “They didn’t force you to cheat.”Her face twitched. “They didn’t force you to shut me out night after night. They didn’t force you to curl up with every man who offered you validation while your husband begged for scraps of affection.” “Ethan...” “They didn’t force you to kill our baby.”Her breath hitched like I’d driven a dagger straight through her ribcage. But the only thing she clutched was her lie-ridden heart. “You think I don’t remember?” I growled, stepping in close now. “You think I forgot how you told me you were pregnant and
