Silence filled the old study after the recording stopped.
No one spoke right away.
Only the sound of breathing that felt heavier than before.
Ethan still stood in front of the desk, both hands resting on the cold, old wooden surface. The laptop before him was already closed, but the image of his father's face from the recording still felt clear in his mind.
Daniel stood a few steps behind him.
Victor Hale looked like a man who had just witnessed something he was never meant to see.
While Leonard Graves remained as calm as ever, though his gaze was now sharper.
Finally, Daniel spoke.
"Now we know the truth."
Ethan did not reply.
He still stared at the desk.
Victor swallowed hard.
"If that recording leaks… the world will know who's really behind Helix."
Leonard nodded slowly.
"And the business world will burn."
Daniel crossed his arms.
"The problem isn't just Marcus Sterling anymore."
He looked at Ethan.
"Now we're up against your father."
The room fell silent again.
Ethan finally lifted his head.
His gaze was hard.
"He's not my father."
Victor looked at him doubtfully.
"What do you mean?"
Ethan replied coldly.
"A father doesn't kill people to protect his secrets."
Leonard smiled slightly.
"Strong words."
Daniel spoke softly,
"We have to be careful."
He pointed to the flash drive still plugged into the laptop.
"If Helix's people find out we have this… they won't stop until we're dead."
Victor tensed immediately.
"They've already tried to kill us before."
Leonard walked toward the room's window.
He looked out at the quiet yard.
"The question now isn't whether they'll come."
He turned back around.
"The question is when."
Daniel let out a long sigh.
"Then we don't have much time."
Ethan pulled the flash drive from the laptop.
He held the small object as if it weighed far more than its size suggested.
"This is enough to destroy them."
Leonard shook his head slightly.
"Not yet."
Victor looked confused.
"Why not?"
Leonard explained calmly,
"This recording shows that Richard Blackwood is involved in the Helios project."
He continued,
"But it's not enough to prove that he ordered the murder of Elena Ward."
Daniel nodded.
"Their lawyers could tear this evidence apart in court."
Ethan spoke softly,
"Then we need more."
Leonard smiled slightly.
"Now you're thinking correctly."
Victor asked,
"What kind of more?"
Leonard replied,
"Helix's internal documents."
Daniel furrowed his brow.
"That means we'd have to get into their network."
Victor immediately shook his head.
"That's suicide."
Leonard let out a small laugh instead.
"Not always."
Ethan looked at him.
"You have a plan."
Leonard crossed his arms.
"Marcus Sterling."
Daniel sighed.
"Marcus again."
Leonard nodded.
"He's the weak point."
Victor said,
"But after today's press conference… he must be more alert."
Leonard replied casually,
"True."
He paused for a moment.
"But Marcus has one major weakness."
Daniel asked,
"What is it?"
Leonard looked at Ethan.
"Ambition."
Ethan understood what he meant.
"Marcus doesn't like being under anyone."
Leonard nodded.
"Including your father."
Victor spoke softly,
"Do you think Marcus would betray him?"
Leonard smiled slightly.
"If given the right reason."
Daniel thought for a few seconds.
"So we make Marcus think Richard Blackwood will sacrifice him."
Leonard said,
"Exactly."
Ethan looked at the flash drive in his hand.
"And this recording could be the tool for it."
Victor still looked doubtful.
"Marcus could just kill us outright."
Leonard replied calmly,
"He won't do that if he needs us."
Daniel said,
"This is a huge gamble."
Ethan finally spoke,
"We don't have any other choice."
Suddenly.
A loud sound came from outside the house.
Everyone fell silent at once.
Leonard turned quickly to the window.
In the distance, behind the front yard trees.
Car headlights could be seen moving closer.
Daniel walked to the other side of the window.
"How many?"
Leonard watched sharply.
"One… two… three cars."
Victor turned pale immediately.
"They found us."
Ethan said calmly,
"We don't know who they are yet."
But a few seconds later, the sound of car doors opening came from the yard.
Footsteps began to draw near.
Daniel whispered,
"This isn't a coincidence."
Leonard pulled a small gun from inside his jacket.
"I agree."
Victor looked panicked.
"What do we do?"
Ethan moved immediately.
"Get out through the back door."
Daniel closed the laptop quickly.
Ethan tucked the flash drive into his jacket pocket at once.
The footsteps outside the house grew clearer.
Someone tried to open the front door.
Leonard spoke softly,
"They have keys."
Ethan looked at the hallway behind them.
"Through the kitchen."
They moved quickly to leave the study.
As they reached the hallway.
The front door of the house slammed open.
The sound of several men entering could be heard.
Daniel muttered softly,
"They're armed."
Leonard nodded.
"And trained."
Victor almost tripped as they ran to the kitchen.
Ethan opened the back door.
Cold air hit them at once.
The house's back yard was large, filled with old trees.
They ran down the small steps toward the yard.
But before they could reach the back fence
A cold voice came from behind the tree shadows.
"Stop."
Everyone froze immediately.
A man stepped out of the darkness.
He wore a neat black suit.
Several armed men stood behind him.
Daniel cursed softly.
Leonard sighed.
"Looks like we're too late."
The man walked forward calmly.
Light from the house illuminated his face.
Victor tensed immediately.
"I know him…"
Ethan narrowed his eyes.
"Who is he?"
Victor whispered,
"He's your father's right-hand man."
The man smiled slightly.
"Good to see you're still alive."
He looked at Ethan meaningfully.
"Richard Blackwood wants to talk to you."
Ethan looked at him coldly.
"If he wants to talk, he can come himself."
The man let out a soft laugh.
"Unfortunately he's too busy for that."
He continued,
"But he gave one message."
Leonard gripped his gun tighter.
"I'm sure this is the interesting part."
The man stared at Ethan without blinking.
"Richard says if you hand over that flash drive now…"
he paused for a moment.
"…he might still consider you his son."
The night wind blew gently across the yard.
But Ethan only smiled coldly.
His answer came without hesitation.
"He lost that right a long time ago."