THE HIDDEN HEIR'S VENGEANCE

CHAPTER 25 : A Case of Betrayal

The next day,

The blazing midday sun scorched the construction site of the Monolith Project along the harbor coast. The crash of waves competed with the thunder of pile drivers and the shouted orders of foremen directing massive cranes.

Concrete dust and the smell of diesel filled the air, the scent of progress for Lane Corp. Yet it was also the scent of opportunity for predators. Inside a command container that had been converted into a cold, air-conditioned field office, Matthew Thomas stood facing a holographic table.

His eyes, now carrying a permanent faint blue glint since the activation of Level 3, scanned thousands of lines of logistical code cascading like a digital waterfall.

Viviane sat on the corner sofa, reviewing legal documents. From time to time, she glanced toward her husband. Something had changed in Matthew since the night at the Obsidian Vault.

He seemed more efficient, sharper. Yet also more distant. His human warmth felt sealed beneath a thin layer of ice.

“All reports are green, Matthew,” Viviane said as she closed her folder. “The first phase of concrete is already eighty percent complete. That’s two weeks ahead of schedule. James Sterling may have bluffed at the party, but he hasn’t done anything.”

“Not yet,” Matthew corrected without looking back. “A loud enemy like Sterling will not stay quiet. If he does not attack head-on, then he will send termites.”

Suddenly, Matthew’s finger froze in midair. He zoomed in on a small segment of a cement procurement report flagged by the ARC system.

[SYSTEM ARC ALERT]

[Anomaly Detected: Sub-Sector 4C (Main Foundation)]

[Type: Chemical Composition Deviation]

[Details: Cement mix ratio reduced by 15 percent. Replaced with low-grade silica sand.]

[Impact: Structural failure within 3 years -> Collapse of Main Tower]

Matthew’s jaw tightened. This was not simple material theft. It was delayed mass murder. If the tower collapsed after completion, Lane Corp would be destroyed forever, and thousands of people could die.

“Viviane,” Matthew called, his voice flat but lethal. “Bring Arthur Pendelton here. Now.”

Viviane frowned. “Arthur? Our Senior Project Manager? He worked with my father for over twenty years, Matt. Why?” she asked, confused.

“Because he just signed this company’s death warrant,” Matthew replied coldly, snapping his fingers as a digital bank transfer record appeared on the large screen.

[Incoming Transfer Detected]

[Amount: $2,500,000]

[Sender: Shell Company ‘Blue Keystone’ (Sterling Trust Affiliate)]

[Recipient: Cayman Offshore Account, Arthur Pendelton]

Viviane’s face went pale. “Arthur… he sold us out?”

“Call him,” Matthew repeated. “And make sure he does not know that we already know,” he said without emotion.

***

Ten minutes later,

The container door opened. Arthur Pendelton, a fifty-five-year-old man wearing an orange safety vest and a dirt-stained white helmet, stepped inside while wiping sweat from his forehead. He looked exhausted, but nervousness hid behind his friendly smile.

“Mrs. Lane, Mr. Thomas,” Arthur greeted them in a heavy, fatherly voice. “What seems to be the problem? I was supervising the pour in Sector 4,” he said uneasily.

Matthew did not return the greeting. He sat at the end of the table, staring at Arthur with an intensity that made the air-conditioned room feel like an oven, hot and oppressive. Viviane remained seated on the sofa, composed, offering only a small nod as Arthur entered.

“Sit down, Arthur,” Matthew said quietly.

Arthur laughed awkwardly. “Of course, but I can’t stay long. Concrete doesn’t wait,” he said as he took the chair across from Matthew Thomas.

“The concrete in Sector 4C,” Matthew said, cutting through the small talk. “The mix was unusual today, wasn’t it?”

Arthur’s smile twitched. Very slightly, but ARC detected his heart rate spike from seventy-five to one hundred and ten beats per minute.

“The mix? No, sir. Everything meets ISO standards. "I personally signed off on the batch,” Arthur replied quickly. “Perhaps there’s a sensor error in your computer system.”

“A sensor error,” Matthew repeated, leaning forward. “Arthur, you have two children in college, don’t you? Your wife just underwent an expensive hip surgery that insurance did not fully cover. And you have a bad habit of online poker with three hundred thousand dollars in debt.”

Arthur’s face turned into a mask of horror. “H-how do you know about my personal affairs?”

“I know everything,” Matthew said coldly. “Including the fact that James Sterling offered you two point five million dollars to sabotage the main foundation concrete. Is that correct?”

Arthur jolted upright, his face flushing with panic and anger. “That’s slander. I served Dominic Lane my entire life. I would never…”

“SILENCE,” Matthew thundered. His voice boomed with an intimidating force that made Arthur collapse back into his seat.

Matthew then tapped a button on his tablet. The large wall screen displayed a real-time banking graph. A green transfer bar blinked, suspended halfway.

[TRANSFER STATUS: SUSPENDED (ARC INTERVENTION)]

[Remaining Hold Time: 04:59 minutes]

“Look at that, Arthur,” Matthew said, pointing at the wall. “That’s your bribe money. James Sterling sent it ten minutes ago, but it has not landed in your Cayman account. That money is floating on an intermediary server that I control.”

Arthur stared at the screen, his mouth hanging open. Cold sweat poured down his temples.

“I… I…” Arthur stammered, tears pooling in his eyes. His defenses completely collapsed. “Please forgive me, Mrs. Lane. They threatened to expose my gambling debts to the board. I… I needed the money.”

Viviane looked at the man she had considered an uncle with wounded eyes. “You could have come to me, Arthur. We could have discussed a loan. Instead, you chose to bring this building down and kill people?”

“I thought it would only cause small cracks. They said it was just to delay the schedule,” Arthur cried, covering his face with his trembling, calloused hands.

Viviane stood, her anger erupting. “You’re fired, Arthur, and I will personally make sure you rot in prison for industrial sabotage and attempted murder.”

“Wait,” Matthew cut in.

Viviane turned to him, shocked. “What? He’s a traitor, Matthew.”

“He’s an asset,” Matthew corrected calmly.

Matthew rose and walked around the table, stopping directly behind Arthur’s chair. He placed his hand on the older man’s shoulder. His grip was powerful, like an eagle’s talon.

“Arthur,” Matthew whispered into his ear. “Listen carefully. I can press cancel, and that two point five million dollars will disappear forever. Then I will send this recording to the police, and your life ends today.”

Arthur sobbed. “Please… don’t, Mr. Thomas… please.”

“Or,” Matthew continued, “I can press accept, and the money will enter your account. Your debts are cleared. Your wife is safe. And you continue working here as Project Manager.”

Arthur looked up, his eyes wide in disbelief. "W-what You’re letting me take the bribe?” he asked.

“But there is a condition,” Matthew said, a thin, terrifying smile forming on his lips. “From this moment on, you no longer belong to James Sterling or to Lane Corp. You belong to me. You are my dog.”

“What do I have to do, sir?” Arthur asked hoarsely.