All Chapters of MARRIED TO MY RUTHLESS CEO : Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

Then he looked at the empty space on his computer where the old file had been.Someone had deleted it.Not hours ago.Not yesterday.Right after he had opened it.Daniel leaned back slowly.That wasn't a coincidence.Someone was watching.He opened the backup system and searched through the oldest Sterling Holdings records. Most of the files were damaged or incomplete, but after several minutes, one hidden folder appeared.Daniel opened it.His eyes narrowed.There were old security reports, executive access records, and names that hadn't appeared in the company's current database for years.Then he saw one name.Marcus Vale.Daniel paused.He remembered the name from Ethan's investigation.Marcus had already spoken to Ethan once. He had given them pieces of information about the past, but never enough to explain everything.Daniel opened the file.Marcus's position had been listed as a security consultant.But his access level told a different story.He had been allowed into restrict

Ethan barely slept that night.Marcus's words kept returning to him.Find the person who signed the order.He had spent years believing what happened to Adrian was an old wound that could never be reopened.Now he knew it had never truly been closed.Someone had made a decision fifteen years ago.Someone had removed Adrian from Sterling Holdings.And someone had gone to great lengths to erase the evidence.Ethan sat at his desk and opened the old authorization file again.The screen showed the same damaged document.Most of the information was missing.But one thing remained.The authorization code.Ethan stared at it.Then he called Daniel.Daniel was silent for a moment."I found a name."Ethan straightened."What name?""That's where it gets complicated.""Daniel.""I don't have the full name. Only part of it.""What part?""Initials."Ethan waited."M. V."Ethan's expression tightened."Marcus Vale?""That's what I thought.""Did you confirm it?""Not yet."Ethan shook his head."

The message stayed on Ethan's screen long after he read it.VICTOR HALE IS NOT ALONE.He read it again.Then another message appeared.BE CAREFUL WHO YOU TRUST.Ethan locked his phone.Someone was watching.The question was how closely.He looked toward the bedroom.Sophia was still asleep.He didn't want to wake her. Not after the night they'd had. For a few hours, he had forgotten about Adrian, the accident, the old records, and everything else that had been tearing at him.Now the past was knocking again.And this time, it had a name.Victor Hale.By morning, Ethan had already called Daniel."I need everything you can find on Victor Hale."Daniel sounded tired."Already started.""Anything?""Some."Ethan sat behind his desk."Tell me.""Victor worked for Sterling Holdings years ago.""Position?""That's where it gets strange."Daniel paused."His title changed several times.""From what to what?" Ethan asked sounding curious"Security. Executive assistant. Then something called sp

Ethan barely slept.Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Adrian standing across the street.Alive.After fifteen years of believing he was dead, Ethan still couldn't make sense of it.But more than Adrian's return, it was Alistair's reaction that troubled him.Fear.His grandfather had looked genuinely afraid when Ethan told him.And that meant Adrian's return was more dangerous than Ethan understood.Morning came slowly.Sophia found Ethan standing near the window, already dressed."You didn't sleep."Ethan turned."Not much."She walked closer."Are you still going?""Yes."Sophia nodded.She didn't try to stop him, Instead, she held out a file."Mia and I found something."Ethan took it."The accident?"Sophia nodded."The original report mentioned another vehicle near the scene."Ethan opened the file."Another vehicle?""It disappeared from the later version of the report."Ethan looked at her."You're sure?""We compared both copies."Sophia's voice became quieter."Someone cha

Wayne followed Sophia and Mia later that afternoon.They had left the office and gone to an old archive building to examine several records connected to Sterling Holdings.Wayne parked across the street.He remained inside his car, watching the entrance.He had been told to find out how much Sophia knew.Nothing more.At least, that was what Vanessa had told him.Wayne raised his phone and took a photograph as Sophia and Mia entered the building.Then he lowered it.He didn't notice the security camera mounted above the entrance.It had captured his face.And his vehicle.Wayne waited.Twenty minutes passed.Then thirty.He watched the entrance carefully, occasionally checking his phone.Inside the building, Sophia and Mia were going through old records.They had requested archived documents relating to Sterling Holdings, including records from the years surrounding Ethan's father's accident.Mia spread several copies across the table."This one keeps coming up."Sophia looked at the