THE SON-IN-LAW THEY DESPISED

Episode 12:The Hidden Mastermind

The interrogation room fell into a heavy silence.

Kevin Moore's confession left everyone speechless.

Raymond's face turned pale.

"I think I know who he's talking about."

Ethan looked at him.

"Who?"

Raymond hesitated.

"There was once another heir to the Carter family."

"The Chairman's younger brother..."

"...Edward Carter."

Ethan's eyes narrowed.

"I've heard Grandpa mention him."

Raymond nodded.

"But only once."

"He disappeared over twenty years ago after a bitter dispute over the family's inheritance."

Ethan frowned.

"I was told he died."

"So was everyone else."

Raymond's expression darkened.

"But no one ever found his body."

The room fell silent.

---

Kevin swallowed nervously.

"I've never met Edward Carter."

"I only know that Victor always referred to someone as 'Boss.'"

"He never used a name."

"But every order came from that person."

Ethan folded his hands.

"What kind of orders?"

Kevin lowered his head.

"Steal company information."

"Forge financial records."

"Create conflicts between Carter Global and its business partners."

"And..."

His voice trembled.

"Destroy your reputation before you officially became chairman."

Raymond clenched his fists.

"So this wasn't just about money."

Kevin shook his head.

"No."

"They wanted Carter Global to collapse from the inside."

---

Meanwhile...

In an abandoned mansion on the outskirts of the city...

A large television displayed the live news.

The headline read:

CARTER GLOBAL EXPOSES CORPORATE SABOTAGE

An elderly man with silver hair calmly switched off the television.

He sat in a wheelchair, staring out the window.

Behind him stood Victor Kane.

"I'm sorry," Victor said.

"I underestimated Ethan."

The old man smiled faintly.

"I warned you."

"William's grandson would never be easy to defeat."

Victor lowered his head.

"What should we do now?"

The old man's eyes became cold.

"If one plan fails..."

"We simply create another."

He slowly turned his wheelchair.

For the first time, his face was revealed.

A long scar stretched across his left cheek.

"My nephew has inherited William's intelligence."

He smiled.

"But he hasn't inherited his experience."

Victor nodded.

"I'll begin preparing."

The old man looked at an old family photograph.

One face had been torn away.

"Ethan..."

"You've taken back the company."

"But the Carter family still owes me."

"And I intend to collect every penny."

---

Back at Carter Global...

Ethan left the interrogation room and walked into his grandfather's office.

The room still looked exactly as it had before his grandfather passed away.

On the bookshelf stood dozens of old journals.

Something caught Ethan's attention.

One book was slightly out of place.

He pulled it out.

Click.

A hidden compartment opened inside the bookshelf.

Raymond stared in surprise.

"I've worked here for thirty years..."

"I never knew this existed."

Inside the compartment was a small wooden box.

Ethan carefully opened it.

There was only one item inside.

An old handwritten letter.

The handwriting belonged to his grandfather.

Ethan unfolded it carefully.

> To my grandson, Ethan...

If you are reading this, it means I am no longer with you.

There is something I kept hidden from everyone.

The greatest enemy of the Carter family is not outside our company...

He is one of us.

Trust no one completely.

Especially if Edward Carter returns.

Ethan stopped reading.

His heart raced.

His grandfather had known all along.

There was another page.

He turned it over.

> Edward believes I stole what belonged to him.

He will never stop seeking revenge.

If he comes back...

Protect the people you love before you protect the company.

Ethan slowly folded the letter.

For the first time since becoming chairman...

He felt uneasy.

This was no longer just a business battle.

It was a family war.

Just then, Raymond's phone rang.

He answered immediately.

"What?"

His expression changed.

"Chairman..."

"It's Mrs. Olivia Harrison."

Ethan looked up.

"What happened?"

Raymond swallowed hard.

"She was involved in a serious car accident."

"The police believe..."

"...someone tampered with her brakes."

The letter slipped from Ethan's hand.

His face turned cold.

This wasn't an accident.

Someone had just declared war.