The Billionaire Came for the Famous Curator—But Couldn’t Take His Eyes Off Her Quiet Sister
Chapter 9
The evidence was hidden beneath a place neither family had visited in years.
Richard Hart’s childhood home.
It stood outside Chicago, abandoned behind overgrown trees.
Lena remembered it.
She had not returned since she was nineteen.
Inside, dust covered everything.
Adrian followed her through the hallway.
“Where would your father hide something?”
“He always said people searched where they expected answers.”
“Meaning?”
“Don’t search logically.”
They checked the attic.
Nothing.
Basement.
Nothing.
Library.
Nothing.
Then Lena noticed the fireplace.
The bricks had been replaced recently.
She touched one.
“It moves.”
Adrian helped remove it.
Behind it was a metal box.
Inside were passports, photographs, bank records, and a small flash drive.
Lena stared.
“That’s it.”
They returned to the apartment and opened the drive.
There were hundreds of files.
One folder contained a list of paintings.
Another contained names.
Politicians.
Museum directors.
Dealers.
Collectors.
Bankers.
Then one name appeared repeatedly.
Victor Ashford.
And another.
Isabelle Hart.
Lena’s heart sank.
But the documents revealed something unexpected.
Isabelle had been secretly working against Ashford.
She had used her growing reputation to gain access to collections and quietly document suspicious transactions.
She hadn’t betrayed their father.
She had been continuing his work.
Lena began crying.
“I was wrong.”
Adrian sat beside her.
“You didn’t know.”
“I should have.”
“You were nineteen.”
“I hated her.”
“Because you thought she chose herself.”
Lena nodded.
Adrian squeezed her hand.
“She chose you.”
The door opened.
Isabelle walked in.
She looked exhausted.
“I hoped you’d find it.”
Lena stood.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because Ashford was watching you.”
“You could have trusted me.”
“I was trying to keep you alive.”
Lena stepped forward.
“All these years.”
“I know.”
The sisters embraced.
For the first time in eighteen years.
Then Isabelle pulled away.
“We don’t have much time.”
“What do you mean?”
“Ashford knows we found the archive.”
Adrian’s phone rang.
Marcus.
“Sir, you need to see this.”
Adrian put it on speaker.
A news alert appeared.
Victor Ashford had announced the acquisition of the Whitmore Gallery.
He was holding a press conference in two hours.
Isabelle stared.
“He wants the records.”
“Why announce the acquisition?”
“Because he wants everyone watching.”
Lena understood.
“He’ll destroy the evidence during the transfer.”
Adrian nodded.
“And blame the gallery.”
Isabelle looked at Lena.
“There’s one final piece.”
“What?”
“A painting.”
“Which one?”
“The painting that started everything.”
“Where is it?”
Isabelle looked toward Adrian.
“Your father’s private collection.”
Adrian’s eyes widened.
“My father never had it.”
“He did.”
“Where?”
Isabelle whispered:
“Your house.”
