The Co-Founder Who Disappeared
Chapter 04 - The Co-Founder Who Disappeared
Thirty years earlier, Samuel Ellis designed the stabilization system that made Sterling aircraft famous.
Arthur Sterling provided investors and factories.
The company marketed itself as the triumph of two friends.
Then Samuel vanished during a test flight over Lake Briar.
No wreckage was recovered.
Arthur announced that Samuel had secretly sold his shares before the flight.
The sale document gave the Sterling family total control.
Vanessa found the document in the corporate archive.
Samuel’s signature appeared authentic.
The date did not.
The contract was notarized two days after his disappearance.
Ryan confronted Eleanor in the estate drawing room.
She studied the photograph of Grace and Samuel without surprise.
“You knew,” Ryan said.
“I suspected.”
“You invited Grace into this family while knowing who she was?”
“I allowed you to marry the woman you loved.”
“You investigated her before our first anniversary.”
“I protect what your grandfather built.”
Ryan placed the cut screw on the table.
“Did protection include the staircase?”
Eleanor’s face hardened.
“I would never harm your child.”
“That was not my question.”
She denied ordering the sabotage.
She admitted commissioning a private genealogy report after seeing Grace’s necklace.
The report confirmed Grace was Samuel’s biological daughter.
Eleanor hid it from the board.
She claimed she feared Grace would be manipulated by rivals.
Vanessa entered with Detective Ortiz.
“The report was ordered through Paul Drake’s company.”
Eleanor said Drake handled private security matters.
Paul had disappeared shortly after the fall.
His truck was found near Lake Briar.
Inside were tools matching the damaged railing and a second brass key engraved with the Ellis symbol.
Ryan looked at Grace’s key.
May you like
The two keys formed opposite halves of a circular design.
Together, they could open something Samuel had hidden before his final flight.
