Chapter 9 - THE MIDNIGHT REVELATION
I pulled the yellow envelope out of the safe, sitting cross-legged on the Persian rug, the cool metal of the safe door resting against my knee. I broke the wax seal with my thumb and slid out several sheets of thick stationery covered in my father’s ink.
My dearest Charlotte,
If you are reading this, it means my father has finally found you, or you have finally found your way back to the foundation of who we are. For ten years, Margaret and Julian tried to isolate our family, convincing Sebastian that I wanted to sever ties, while simultaneously telling you that your grandfather had disowned us.
They wanted Valle Industries for themselves. But they made one fatal miscalculation: they underestimated the resilience of a Valle.
Inside this safe, you will find everything you need to not only reclaim your birthright, but to ensure that corporate corruption can never take root in this company again. Stand tall, my love. Your grandfather loves you more than you will ever know, and I am watching over you every step of the way.
— With all my love, Your Father.
A single tear slipped down my cheek, catching the warm light of the desk lamp, but my lips curved into a soft, unbroken smile. The years of hunger, the cold storage units, the cheap canvas bags, the slaps in the ballroom—they hadn't broken me. They had forged me into someone unbreakable.
May you like
I gathered the journals and the ledger, placing them carefully back inside the yellow envelope, and stood up.
It was 2:00 AM. The hotel was silent, the city below was sleeping, and the empire was finally back in the hands of its true heir.
