Chapter 9 — The Man Ethan Called Uncle
# The Birthday Surprise
## Chapter 9 — The Man Ethan Called Uncle
Ethan didn't sleep.
The words from Lucas's video echoed through his mind until sunrise.
**"Look at the man you've trusted since your father's funeral."**
There was only one person that description could fit.
Charles Harrison.
The man Ethan had called "Uncle Charles" since he was twelve years old.
Charles had been Ethan's late father's closest friend and business partner. After his father's death, Charles became a constant presence in the Harrison family's life. He attended every birthday, every Christmas dinner, every graduation, and every important board meeting.
When Ethan inherited Harrison Technologies, Charles had guided him through his first years as CEO.
Ethan trusted him so completely that two years earlier he had appointed Charles Chairman of the Board.
Now that trust suddenly felt like a weapon.
At FBI headquarters, Agent Mercer replayed Lucas's confession several times.
"He never mentioned Charles by full name," Mercer said.
"But considering the evidence..."
"I don't think he needed to."
Another agent entered the room carrying a thick folder.
"We finished tracing Lucas's financial records."
Mercer opened the report.
Almost every large payment Lucas had received over the past five years originated from companies that technically didn't exist.
Shell corporations.
Fake consulting firms.
Offshore accounts.
Every trail eventually disappeared...
Except one.
One payment had accidentally passed through a legitimate investment company.
Mercer frowned.
"Who owns this?"
The agent answered quietly.
"Harrison Capital Holdings."
Ethan looked confused.
"That's impossible."
"My company sold that investment firm eight years ago."
Mercer turned another page.
"It wasn't sold."
"It was transferred."
"To Charles Harrison."
The room became silent.
Ethan slowly sat down.
"I signed those papers."
Mercer nodded.
"You probably did."
"But judging by the dates..."
"...you were told they were routine restructuring documents."
Ethan remembered.
The documents had arrived only weeks after his father's funeral.
Charles had assured him they were standard legal paperwork.
A grieving twenty-three-year-old Ethan had signed every page without reading them.
Mercer leaned back.
"I think Charles started planning this long before Lucas ever entered your life."
Another agent hurried into the room.
"We've recovered deleted emails from Lucas's phone."
Mercer looked up.
"Anything useful?"
The agent nodded.
"One email survived."
"It was sent yesterday."
"From Charles."
Mercer opened the message.
Only one sentence appeared.
**If Ethan discovers the truth... leave the country immediately.**
Ethan closed his eyes.
His godfather hadn't simply betrayed him.
He had already planned his escape.
