Chapter 6
The shock of Marcus's words hung in the air like a heavy smog, suffocating the quiet office.
Julian stared at his private investigator, his face turning as rigid and unreadable as stone.
"My father's death certificate was signed by the state medical examiner in Albany," Julian said, his voice terrifyingly calm.
"I attended his funeral myself."
Marcus pulled a manila folder from his leather bag and laid it flat on the mahogany desk between them.
"The coffin buried in the family plot was weighed down with concrete blocks, Julian," Marcus revealed grimly.
"Four days ago, Arthur Vance walked into a luxury hotel in Zurich using a secondary passport issued in Panama."
Julian picked up the file, opening it to find a clear surveillance photo taken outside a Swiss banking facility.
Standing on the steps was a tall, silver-haired man in a navy coat, looking remarkably healthy and remarkably alive.
It was undeniably Arthur Vance—the ruthless patriarch whose toxic legacy had nearly destroyed their family a decade ago.
"He didn't die," Julian whispered, the horrifying truth finally connecting in his mind like a strike of lightning.
"He faked his death to evade the federal tax fraud indictment in 2016."
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"And Eleanor wasn't acting alone," Marcus added softly.
"She's been working as his asset manager on American soil for the last ten years."
