The Billionaire Heir's Revenge

Chapter 11: The Traitor Within

The underground vault was silent.

Ethan stared at the final sentence in his father's letter.

One of our enemies is already inside Blackwell Global.

The words felt heavier than everything else.

He could handle hostile takeovers.

He could handle assassins.

He could handle billionaires and politicians.

But a hidden enemy inside his own empire?

That was different.

Very different.

Sebastian slowly closed the file.

His face looked grim.

"Only a handful of people knew this vault existed."

Ethan looked at him.

"How many?"

"Less than ten."

The answer immediately narrowed the field.

But it also created a terrifying possibility.

If the traitor was among those ten people...

Then they were someone powerful.

Someone trusted.

Someone close.

Ethan took a deep breath.

"Nobody learns about this."

Sebastian nodded.

"Understood."

"The investigation stays between us."

"Agreed."

For the first time since inheriting the empire, Ethan realized he could trust almost no one.

The next morning.

Blackwell Global Headquarters.

The boardroom was filled with directors.

Leonard Pierce sat at one end of the table.

Richard Kane sat at the other.

Executives quietly discussed market trends.

Everything appeared normal.

Yet Ethan viewed the room differently now.

Every smile looked suspicious.

Every greeting felt calculated.

One of these people could be responsible for his family's destruction.

The thought was unsettling.

"Chairman."

Leonard smiled warmly.

"You seem distracted."

Ethan smiled back.

"Just thinking."

The meeting began.

Financial reports.

International acquisitions.

Corporate restructuring.

Normal topics.

Normal discussions.

Yet Ethan's attention remained elsewhere.

Observing.

Watching.

Listening.

Then something caught his eye.

Richard Kane.

The same director who challenged him during his first board meeting.

At first glance, nothing seemed unusual.

But every time Project Phoenix or family matters were mentioned—

Richard's expression subtly changed.

Only for a second.

Yet Ethan noticed.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

After the meeting ended.

Ethan called Sebastian.

"Keep an eye on Richard Kane."

Sebastian frowned.

"You suspect him?"

"I don't know."

Ethan looked out the window.

"But I want answers."

Later that afternoon.

A visitor arrived unexpectedly.

The receptionist called immediately.

"Chairman."

"A woman insists on seeing you."

Ethan frowned.

"Who is she?"

The receptionist hesitated.

"She says you'll recognize her mother's name."

That immediately caught Ethan's attention.

"Send her in."

Minutes later.

The office doors opened.

A young woman entered.

She looked to be around twenty-five.

Elegant.

Beautiful.

Confident.

Yet there was sadness hidden in her eyes.

She stopped several feet away.

Then quietly said:

"My mother was Evelyn Frost."

Ethan froze.

His heartbeat accelerated.

Because according to the file...

Evelyn Frost had been his mother's closest friend.

The woman slowly placed a photograph on his desk.

An old photograph.

Fifteen years old.

It showed Ethan's parents.

His grandfather.

A young Evelyn Frost.

And standing beside them...

A little girl.

The same little girl now standing in front of him.

"My name is Ava Frost."

Her voice trembled slightly.

"My mother died protecting a secret your parents entrusted to her."

Silence filled the office.

Ethan stared at the photograph.

Then at Ava.

"What secret?"

Ava slowly opened her purse.

From inside, she removed a silver key.

Ancient.

Intricately designed.

Unlike anything Ethan had ever seen.

The moment he saw it—

His father's letter flashed through his mind.

Only one living person possesses the key to unlocking the Phoenix Archive.

Ava placed the silver key on the desk.

Then said something that made Ethan's blood run cold.

"This is only half of it."

The room fell silent.

Ethan slowly stood.

"What do you mean?"

Ava looked directly into his eyes.

"Because the second half..."

Her voice became almost a whisper.

"...was stolen fifteen years ago by the traitor inside Blackwell Global."

The game had just changed again.