Chapter 6 - The Box Arthur Kept HiddenArthur survived the night.
The following morning, Rachel and I went to First National Bank using written authorization Arthur had previously given his attorneys.
Inside the safe-deposit box sat an old ledger, a flash drive, several photographs, and a sealed letter addressed to me.
The ledger documented private loans Arthur had made to Luca over twelve years.
More than three million dollars.
Luca had repeatedly claimed he had built his lifestyle from executive bonuses and investments.
In reality, Arthur had quietly rescued him from failed ventures, gambling losses, and reckless spending.
The flash drive contained something worse.
Years earlier, Arthur had discovered irregular transfers involving one of Luca’s private consulting companies.
He had confronted him privately and forced repayment rather than involving authorities.
Arthur had protected his son.
Luca had interpreted mercy as weakness.
The sealed letter explained why Arthur had preserved the evidence.
“If Luca ever mistakes my love for blindness, you may need this.”
I read that sentence three times.
Then Rachel found another envelope.
Inside was a photograph.
Chloe Mercer stood beside Luca at a Vance Global charity gala.
The date printed on the back was five years earlier.
Their affair was supposedly eighteen months old.
They had known each other much longer.
Rachel stared at the photograph.
“This wasn't random.”
No.
May you like
It wasn't.
And whatever Chloe wanted from Luca, it had begun long before I knew her name.
Related Stories
