The study at the Hale estate was silent except for the faint hum of the computer.
Alexander Hale stared at the old contract on the screen. The document looked ordinary at first glance—just another business agreement signed decades earlier.
But the names at the bottom changed everything.
Richard Hale.
Daniel Vance.
Elena slowly sat down beside him.
"So your father and Marcus's father were partners."
Alexander nodded slowly.
"It looks that way."
He opened another file connected to the same project.
Financial records.
Land agreements.
Construction permits.
It appeared to be one of the earliest developments that eventually helped build **Hale Enterprises.
Elena frowned.
"But if they were partners… what happened?"
Alexander scrolled further.
"That's what I'm trying to find."
The documents suddenly stopped after a certain point.
The last report simply stated:
Project ownership transferred solely to Richard Hale.
Elena leaned closer.
"That's strange."
Alexander's expression darkened.
"Yes."
"There should be more records."
Just then the study door opened again.
Catherine Hale walked in, holding a glass of wine.
"You found something."
Alexander turned the screen toward her.
Catherine studied the document carefully.
Her expression slowly changed.
"I remember this project."
Alexander looked surprised.
"You do?"
Catherine nodded slightly.
"Yes."
She placed the glass down and sat across from them.
"That was the first major land development your father ever worked on."
Elena asked quietly,
"And Daniel Vance?"
Catherine paused.
"He was the original investor."
Alexander's eyes narrowed.
"So he funded the project."
Catherine nodded.
"But something went wrong."
Alexander leaned forward.
"What kind of problem?"
Catherine sighed.
"The project collapsed during construction."
Elena blinked.
"Collapsed?"
Catherine nodded.
"There was an accident at the site."
Alexander felt his stomach tighten.
"What kind of accident?"
Catherine's voice became quieter.
"A structural failure."
Elena looked alarmed.
"Were people hurt?"
Catherine's gaze lowered slightly.
"Yes."
Alexander's chest tightened.
"How many?"
Catherine looked directly at him.
"Several workers died."
The room fell silent.
Alexander stared at the screen again.
"And after that…?"
Catherine continued slowly.
"The investigation blamed faulty materials."
Elena frowned.
"Who was responsible?"
Catherine answered calmly.
"Daniel Vance."
Alexander looked up sharply.
"What?"
Catherine nodded.
"The report concluded that Daniel supplied defective steel to cut costs."
Elena shook her head slightly.
"So the partnership ended."
"Yes," Catherine said.
Alexander leaned back in his chair.
"But the final ownership was transferred to my father."
Catherine nodded.
"He bought Daniel Vance out after the investigation."
Elena thought about that.
"But Marcus believes something else happened."
Alexander's expression darkened.
"Yes."
He looked again at the contract on the screen.
"If Marcus thinks my father stole the company…"
Catherine finished the sentence quietly.
"…then he's been seeking revenge for twenty-five years."
Across the city, inside his penthouse office, Marcus Vance opened the same folder again.
The photograph of the construction site lay on top.
Two men standing side by side.
Partners.
Marcus picked up the picture.
His voice was calm, but his eyes were cold.
"My father trusted yours."
He set the photo down.
"And he paid the price."
Marcus closed the folder again.
"Now it's your turn, Alexander."
Back at the Hale estate, Alexander slowly shut the computer.
Elena looked at him carefully.
"What are you thinking?"
Alexander stood and walked toward the window.
Outside, the city lights stretched endlessly beneath the night sky.
"I'm thinking Marcus might believe this story."
Elena frowned.
"But you're not sure it's true."
Alexander turned back toward them.
"No."
His voice was steady.
"I'm not."
Catherine watched him closely.
"Then what will you do?"
Alexander's eyes hardened.
"I find out what really happened."
Because if his father had truly betrayed Daniel Vance—
Then the war between Alexander and Marcus was built on a lie.
But if Marcus was wrong—
Then someone else had been hiding the truth for twenty-five years.