Chapter 9 — The Betrayal Inside the Palace
Chapter 9 — The Betrayal Inside the Palace
Darkness swallowed the library.
One second, the Hawthorne family was standing together, staring at the evidence that could destroy everything they believed.
The next second—
nothing.
No lights.
No sound.
Only silence.
Clara immediately felt the tension in the room change.
This was not a simple power outage.
Not after everything that had happened.
“Stay where you are,” Alexander ordered.
His voice was calm, but everyone could hear the concern beneath it.
Thomas moved closer to Eleanor.
“I knew this would happen.”
Alexander looked toward him.
“What?”
“They know I’m here.”
A sudden noise echoed from the hallway.
A door closing.
Someone was outside.
Alexander reached for his phone, but the signal was gone.
“Security system is down,” he said.
Thomas looked at him.
“Someone disabled it.”
Clara’s heart raced.
The person who had been listening was still inside the palace.
A few seconds later, emergency lights turned on.
The library was filled with a dim red glow.
Alexander opened the door carefully.
The hallway was empty.
But something caught Clara’s attention.
A small piece of paper lying on the floor.
“Mr. Hawthorne.”
Everyone turned.
Clara picked it up.
Alexander took it from her hand.
His expression changed as he read the message.
“You trusted the wrong people.”
Eleanor looked worried.
“Is this from the same person?”
Alexander nodded.
“Yes.”
Thomas looked around.
“They’re trying to scare us.”
Alexander folded the paper.
“No.”
He looked serious.
“They’re trying to make us doubt each other.”
Minutes later, Marcus Reed arrived with several security officers.
“Mr. Hawthorne, are you all right?”
Alexander looked at him carefully.
“Yes.”
Marcus checked the room.
“What happened?”
“The power went out.”
Marcus immediately became professional.
“I’ll investigate.”
Alexander watched him.
Normally, he would have trusted Marcus without hesitation.
But now every word Thomas had said echoed in his mind.
The person responsible might be someone close.
Marcus noticed Alexander’s expression.
“Is something wrong?”
Alexander paused.
Then answered:
“No.”
But it was obvious something had changed.
Marcus felt it.
Later that night, Alexander met Thomas privately in his office.
The door closed behind them.
“You accused Marcus.”
Thomas looked at him.
“I gave you evidence.”
“You gave me suspicion.”
Thomas stared at his brother.
“You still want to believe everyone around you is loyal.”
Alexander’s voice became colder.
“Because loyalty matters.”
“And because admitting betrayal hurts.”
The words hit Alexander.
Thomas continued.
“I know Marcus better than you think.”
“What does that mean?”
“When I discovered the financial records, Marcus was already involved.”
Alexander shook his head.
“No.”
“He helped hide information.”
“That doesn’t prove he betrayed us.”
Thomas looked at him.
“Why are you defending him?”
Alexander didn’t answer.
Because the truth was painful.
Marcus had been more than an employee.
He had been a friend.
Someone Alexander trusted with his life.
Meanwhile, Clara found Eleanor sitting alone in the garden.
The elderly woman looked exhausted.
“Are you worried about Thomas?”
Eleanor smiled sadly.
“I spent twelve years worrying about him.”
She looked at the stars.
“I finally got him back.”
“But?”
“But now I’m afraid I could lose him again.”
Clara sat beside her.
“You won’t.”
Eleanor looked at her.
“How can you be sure?”
“Because he came back.”
Clara smiled gently.
“People who don’t care don’t come back.”
Eleanor held her hand.
“You remind me of someone.”
“Who?”
“Myself when I was young.”
Clara laughed softly.
“I don’t think I’m anything like you.”
“Oh, you are.”
Eleanor looked toward the palace.
“You both protect people even when it costs you something.”
The next morning, Alexander received unexpected news.
The Hawthorne Foundation’s accounts had been frozen.
The announcement appeared everywhere.
"Hawthorne Foundation Under Investigation."
The media exploded.
Reporters surrounded the palace gates.
Cameras flashed.
Questions were shouted.
“Mr. Hawthorne, did your foundation misuse charity funds?”
“Is Thomas Hawthorne involved?”
“Are the accusations connected to the Whitmore family?”
Inside the palace, Alexander watched the chaos outside.
Victoria had made her move.
And she had done it publicly.
Victoria watched the news from her penthouse.
She smiled as reporters repeated her accusations.
“She’s winning,” Daniel said carefully.
Victoria corrected him.
“No.”
She looked at the screen.
“I already won.”
Daniel frowned.
“But the investigation hasn’t proven anything.”
Victoria smiled.
“It doesn’t matter.”
She turned away from the television.
“People believe the first story they hear.”
At Hawthorne Palace, Thomas looked at the news reports.
His expression became serious.
“This is exactly what they wanted.”
Alexander looked at him.
“Who?”
Thomas answered quietly.
“The people who destroyed my life.”
Clara stepped closer.
“What are we going to do?”
Alexander looked at his family.
Then at the evidence.
Then at the storm gathering outside.
“We find the truth.”
Thomas nodded.
“But we have to move carefully.”
“Why?”
Thomas looked toward the security cameras.
“Because whoever is behind this is not trying to destroy the Hawthornes from the outside.”
A pause.
“They’re already inside.”
At that moment, Marcus walked into the room.
“Mr. Hawthorne.”
Everyone turned.
Marcus held a folder.
“I found something.”
Alexander looked at him.
“What?”
Marcus placed the folder on the table.
“Evidence that could clear the foundation.”
Everyone stared.
Even Thomas.
Because if Marcus was telling the truth…
he might be the person who saves them.
But if Thomas was right…
May you like
he might be the person who planned it all.
And nobody knew which possibility was more dangerous.
