Chapter 6 - The Evidence in the Safe
Sebastian returned to the Caldwell estate one week later.
His father was waiting in the library.
Victor stood beside the fireplace, perfectly dressed, perfectly composed.
“You look tired,” he said.
“I have a newborn.”
Victor’s expression remained cold.
“You have a problem.”
Sebastian walked to the desk.
“I want the truth.”
“You have it.”
“No. I want every document you used against Rowan.”
Victor smiled faintly.
“You are making a mistake.”
“I made that mistake eight months ago.”
Victor’s face hardened.
“You think she loves you? She left without telling you about your child.”
“You made sure I did not receive her messages.”
“She wanted you to choose her over your responsibility.”
“She wanted me to choose my family.”
Victor stepped closer.
“Caldwell Life Sciences is your family.”
Sebastian looked around the enormous library.
The portraits.
The antique furniture.
The generations of Caldwell men who had treated power like proof of virtue.
“No,” he said. “It is your monument.”
Victor’s anger finally appeared.
“You would throw away everything your grandfather built?”
“I would protect Daniel from becoming you.”
Victor’s face went still.
Sebastian opened the wall safe behind the painting.
He knew the combination.
Victor had taught him years ago.
Inside were files, contracts, personal records, and a folder labeled HALE.
Sebastian opened it.
There were photographs.
Altered dates.
Payments to a private investigator.
A forged email thread.
And a signed statement from Victor’s security chief confirming that he had intercepted Rowan’s letter and deleted messages from Sebastian’s phone backup.
Sebastian held the pages in his hands.
“You destroyed her life.”
Victor looked at him without remorse.
“I saved yours.”
“No,” Sebastian said. “You only proved that I was too weak to deserve her.”
He took the folder.
Victor’s voice became dangerous.
“If you use those documents against me, you will destroy this company.”
May you like
Sebastian looked at him.
“Then perhaps it deserves to be destroyed.”
