The message replayed in Sara's mind over and over that night."Your father isn't as innocent as you think. Meet me tomorrow. Alone."
She'd seen enough manipulation to know it could be a trap.But something about the phrasing — the tone — felt different. Almost desperate.
By morning, she'd made up her mind.
Sara dressed plainly, pulled on a hooded jacket, and slipped out before sunrise. The mansion was quiet except for the faint sound of the gardener's broom brushing the pathway.
She left a note on her nightstand — just one line:
If I'm not back by noon, call Daniel.
The city was still waking up when she arrived at the small café mentioned in the message. It was tucked between two old bookstores, forgotten by time. The smell of fresh bread mingled with damp air.
She found a corner seat. Minutes passed. The doorbell chimed.
A man entered — tall, mid-forties, with tired eyes and an air of caution. He wore a gray suit, slightly wrinkled, and his gaze darted around before landing on her.
He walked over slowly."You're Sara Carter?" he asked.
Sara nodded, staying alert. "You sent the message?"
He slid into the seat opposite her. "Yes. My name is Ethan Vale. I used to work for your father."
Her heartbeat quickened. "Used to?"
Ethan's expression darkened. "Until he married Laura. I was his legal consultant — I helped manage company transitions. But there were… irregularities."
Sara frowned. "Irregularities?"
He leaned in. "Before Laura married your father, she was already in contact with a businessman named Han Yoon. A foreign investor with a history of corporate takeovers. After their marriage, some of your father's assets were quietly moved to shell companies — all linked to Han's network."
Sara's stomach turned cold. "You're saying Laura and my father were involved in illegal deals?"
Ethan shook his head. "I'm saying your father didn't know. Not fully. But he signed documents without reading them — trusting Laura. By the time I discovered it, she'd already hidden the trail. When I confronted her, I was fired."
Sara sat back, her mind spinning. "Why tell me this now?"
Ethan hesitated, then said quietly, "Because Laura's trying to reopen those accounts through Han again. If she succeeds, your family's company will fall — and she'll walk away clean."
Sara's eyes narrowed. "And what do you want?"
He gave a humorless smile. "Justice. And maybe… redemption."
Before she could respond, the café door opened — and her instincts screamed danger.
A man in a black coat entered, scanning the room. His eyes locked on Ethan.
Ethan paled. "We have to go. Now."
They rushed through the back exit into the alleyway. Sara's pulse thundered.
"Who was that?" she whispered.
"Han's people," Ethan replied, breathless. "I told you — this goes deeper than you think."
Just then, his phone buzzed. He glanced at it, cursed under his breath.
"Go back to your mansion," he said urgently. "Tell Daniel. Don't trust anyone who comes to your door today."
Sara frowned. "Why? What's happening?"
Ethan's gaze flicked toward the street. "Because someone's already watching you."
Sara turned to look — but before she could see, Ethan pushed her behind a dumpster as a car sped by, shattering the silence with screeching tires.
When she looked again, Ethan was gone.
Hours later, back at the mansion, Daniel met her at the gates. "Sara! Where the hell were you? You scared everyone!"
Sara's face was pale. "I needed answers. And I got them… but not all of them."
Daniel clenched his jaw. "Next time, you don't go alone."
"I know." She looked toward the horizon, voice steady. "But Daniel… I think Laura isn't just greedy. She's dangerous. And now, she's not working alone."