Chapter 9 - The Secret Safe
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Within minutes, four armed security guards swept the east wing of the estate. They found the open balcony door near the end of the corridor, where the intruder had escaped using a heavy rope tied to the stone railing.
Marcus stood inside Elena's bathroom, staring at the red words painted on the glass. His face was thunderous.
"They bypassed the outer perimeter sensors," David reported, holding a flashlight. "It was a professional job. They knew the blind spots of our security camera grid."
"Julian Carter," Marcus growled, clenching his fists. "He’s trying to scare Elena into resigning so he can argue in court that Leo has no stable caretaker."
Marcus turned to Elena, who was wrapped in a warm blanket, sitting on the edge of his master bedroom sofa while Martha watched over sleeping Leo inside the master suite nursery.
"You aren't staying in the staff quarters anymore, Elena," Marcus stated with absolute authority. "Starting tonight, you and Leo will stay inside the master suite. It has reinforced steel doors and a direct panic button connected to the local police precinct."
Elena looked up, her voice shaking. "Mr. Vance, I don't want to be a burden. This is getting so dangerous..."
"Listen to me, Elena," Marcus sat beside her, his voice low and intensely gentle. "You aren't a burden. You are the only person in this house I completely trust."
He walked over to a large oil painting hanging beside his study desk and pushed a hidden button on the wooden frame. The painting slid smoothly to the side, revealing a heavy digital wall safe.
Marcus tapped in an eight-digit code, and the safe door clicked open. Inside were stacks of legal documents, gold bars, and a small silver USB drive.
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"What is that?" Elena asked softly.
"This drive contains thirty years of Julian Carter’s illegal financial transactions," Marcus explained. "My father gathered this evidence before he passed away. If Julian pushes this custody battle any further, I will release this data to the federal prosecutors. It will end his empire forever."
