Chapter 6 - The phantom signature
The penthouse office was dead quiet except for the low hum of the massive servers in the corner. Richard stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, staring out at the snow falling over the city. “I want the medical files from the night Sarah died,” Richard commanded softly. “I want the name of the doctor who signed the death certificates for my wife and my daughter. Pull it up right now.”
Vance’s fingers flew across the encrypted tablet on the desk. Within seconds, a scanned copy of the seven-year-old document appeared on the large monitor on the wall. Richard stared at the messy, hurried signature at the bottom of the page. Dr. Aris Thorne. He had been the head of obstetrics at the private hospital the Sterlings funded.
“Run a financial trace on Dr. Thorne,” Richard said, his voice a low, dangerous rumble. “Look for any massive deposits made within forty-eight hours of this date.” Vance typed rapidly. The screen flashed, pulling up international banking records. “Boss, Dr. Thorne retired exactly three days after your wife passed away. He moved to a private estate in the Swiss Alps. The estate was purchased through a shell corporation.”
Richard’s jaw tightened. “Who owns the shell corporation?” Vance hit one last key, tracing the wire transfers through a labyrinth of dummy companies until the final, undeniable name appeared on the screen. Edward Sterling. Richard’s older brother.
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The betrayal was absolute. Edward had always been jealous, always resentful that their father favored Richard to take over the multi-billion dollar industrial empire. The family trust explicitly stated that the majority shares would pass to the firstborn of the next generation. If Richard had a child, Edward would be permanently locked out of the primary inheritance. They hadn't just lied to him; they had systematically dismantled his life for money.
“Bring them to the unfinished floor,” Richard said, his tone entirely devoid of emotion. “I don't want them anywhere near my daughter.” Vance nodded, recognizing the terrifying shift in his boss. The unfinished fiftieth floor of the Sterling Tower was a massive expanse of raw concrete and exposed steel beams. It was freezing, isolated, and completely soundproof. It was exactly where Richard wanted them.
