CHAPTER 10

The True Owner

The underground archive fell into complete silence.

Dust floated through the narrow beams of emergency light as Richard Harrington stood in the center of the room, holding the weathered leather folder that everyone had risked their lives to find.

He looked at Khloe with quiet satisfaction.

"You've been chasing the wrong prize."

Khloe stared back.

"My father died because of those documents."

Richard nodded.

"Yes."

"But not because they prove murder."

He slowly opened the folder.

"They prove ownership."

Naomi stepped closer.

"Don't touch anything."

Richard ignored her.

He carefully removed the first parchment.

Although more than sixty years old, the paper was perfectly preserved inside a waterproof sleeve.

At the top appeared the original company seal.

HARRINGTON COMMERCIAL HOLDINGS

Beneath it were the names of the three founders.

Charles Harrington.

Jonathan Cole.

Eleanor Cole.

Khloe's breathing stopped.

"My father..."

"He wasn't an employee."

Richard smiled.

"He was never an employee."

"He was one of the founders."

Harrison quickly examined the ownership percentages.

Jonathan Cole — 45%.

Eleanor Cole — 25%.

Charles Harrington — 30%.

He looked up in disbelief.

"Charles never owned the company."

Richard nodded.

"He only controlled it because everyone believed Jonathan was dead and Eleanor had disappeared."

Naomi whispered,

"So everything the Harrington family built..."

"...was built on stolen ownership."

Eleanor slowly walked toward the old wooden desk.

Her fingers brushed across the faded initials carved into its surface.

J.C.

Tears filled her eyes.

"I begged Jonathan to leave."

"He refused."

"He believed the law would protect us."

She closed her eyes.

"He was wrong."

Richard handed another document to Khloe.

This one carried the title:

Emergency Succession Agreement

Naomi began reading aloud.

"If either founding family attempts to obtain control through fraud, coercion, or murder..."

"...all ownership shall immediately transfer to the surviving descendants of the innocent family."

The room became completely silent.

Khloe slowly lowered the paper.

"If my father was murdered..."

"The company belongs to me."

Richard smiled.

"Almost."

He pointed toward the final paragraph.

Naomi read it again.

Her expression changed.

"It only becomes effective..."

"...after every surviving conspirator has been identified."

Harrison frowned.

"So someone is still missing."

Richard nodded.

"And until that person is exposed..."

"...no one legally owns the company."

Before anyone could speak, Naomi's phone rang.

It was Dr. Elena Brooks.

Naomi answered immediately.

Her expression darkened within seconds.

"What happened?"

Harrison asked.

Naomi lowered the phone.

"They took Hope."

Khloe's face turned white.

"What?"

"Two people wearing federal credentials entered the neonatal intensive care unit."

"They presented official transfer orders."

"They left with your daughter."

Khloe's knees nearly gave way.

"My baby..."

Richard looked genuinely confused.

"I didn't order that."

No one believed him.

"I'm telling the truth."

"I wanted the documents."

"Not the child."

Eleanor suddenly whispered,

"Oh no..."

Khloe grabbed her arm.

"You know who did this."

Eleanor slowly nodded.

"There was another founder."

"Someone who erased his name from every official record."

"The man who financed Charles."

"The man who controlled Margaret Kensington."

"The man Jonathan feared more than anyone."

Harrison asked quietly,

"Who?"

Eleanor answered with trembling lips.

"Gabriel Blackwood."

At that exact moment...

Every light inside the archive went dark.

A deep mechanical voice echoed through hidden speakers.

"Welcome back..."

"...Miss Cole."

Emergency lights flickered to life.

Every monitor in the room switched on simultaneously.

Each screen showed the same image.

Baby Hope.

Sleeping peacefully.

A pair of elderly hands gently lifted her from the crib.

Then an older man stepped into view.

Silver hair.

Blue eyes.

Tailored black suit.

He smiled directly into the camera.

"My name is Gabriel Blackwood."

He paused.

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