“You Almost Married Her?” Millionaire’s Wife Mocked Her—Unaware of Who Just Arrived!
Chapter 8
Jonathan immediately hired a private investigator.
The man outside the café was identified.
His name was Paul Mercer.
He had worked as a security contractor for Ethan Sterling.
That changed the investigation.
Emily met Ethan the next day.
He appeared calm.
Too calm.
“You’ve been asking questions,” he said.
“Yes.”
“About the family.”
“About my mother.”
Ethan smiled.
“Same thing.”
“No.”
Emily placed the ledger on the table.
“My mother was investigating financial transfers.”
Ethan glanced at it.
“I don’t know anything about that.”
“Then why did your company receive money from the foundation?”
“Business.”
“Why did you buy property from Sterling Development Services for less than market value?”
“Negotiation.”
“Why did Vanessa receive shares?”
Ethan’s expression changed.
“You’ve been digging.”
“Yes.”
He leaned back.
“You have no idea what you’re dealing with.”
“Then explain it.”
Ethan looked toward the window.
“The Sterling family has been wealthy for generations.”
“I know.”
“No. You know the public version.”
He explained that Charles Sterling had inherited a complex network of trusts and private holdings.
Much of the family’s wealth had been protected through legal structures.
But over time, people had begun using those structures for personal benefit.
Ethan had participated.
So had Richard.
So had Vanessa.
But Ethan claimed someone else controlled the system.
“Who?”
He shook his head.
“I don’t know.”
“Then why are you afraid?”
“Because the person who does know has enough evidence to destroy everyone.”
Emily leaned forward.
“Who is it?”
Ethan looked at her.
“Your grandfather.”
Emily froze.
“My grandfather is dead.”
“Yes.”
“Then how?”
Ethan shook his head.
“He may not be.”
Silence.
Emily stared at him.
“What did you say?”
Ethan stood.
“I shouldn’t have told you that.”
“Sit down.”
He didn’t.
“Where is he?”
“I don’t know.”
“Ethan.”
He looked at her.
“The last person who saw him alive was your mother.”
Emily’s heart pounded.
Her grandfather had supposedly died fifteen years earlier.
But now Ethan was saying Laura had seen him afterward.
She called Jonathan.
They began searching old records.
A death certificate existed.
Medical records existed.
But something was wrong.
The signatures didn’t match.
Jonathan’s attorney found an old insurance file.
The photograph attached to the file was not her grandfather.
Emily stared at it.
“That’s not him.”
Jonathan nodded.
“Then someone staged his death.”
But why?
And who?
They traced the burial.
The cemetery record listed a private family plot.
When they checked the grave, there was a coffin.
But no accessible medical identification.
Everything had been arranged legally.
Almost too legally.
Emily felt a cold certainty.
Her mother had discovered the truth.
Then she died.
Her grandfather disappeared.
The foundation was manipulated.
And someone had spent years keeping all of it hidden.
That evening, Richard called Emily.
His voice was shaken.
“I need to see you.”
“Why?”
“I found something.”
“What?”
“Your grandfather’s old office.”
Emily froze.
“Where?”
Richard gave her an address.
Then added:
“Come alone.”
