Chapter 18 - The Midnight Confession
My breath caught as I read the first lines of the old deed.
"What is it, Sarah?" David asked, noticing the sudden tension in my shoulders.
"It’s an original surveyor’s annex to our terminal's land grant from 1892," I whispered, my eyes scanning the faded calligraphy. "Look at the subterranean parcel listed beneath Bay 22. It wasn't built for freight storage. It was registered as a private railway bunker during the industrial expansion."
Before David could respond, my personal phone rang. The screen displayed a restricted number.
I signaled to Marcus and pressed speakerphone. "Sarah here."
A trembling, ragged breath answered. It was Julian. But the arrogance, the smugness, and the cruel venom had entirely evaporated from his voice. He sounded broken, terrified, and cornered.
"Sarah... please, don't hang up," Julian choked out, his voice hoarse from crying. "You have to listen to me. Victoria left me this afternoon. She cleared out our remaining personal accounts and took her jewelry. But that's not why I'm calling."
"You have nothing left to say to me, Julian," I said coldly. "The court ruled. We are done."
"No, Sarah, listen to me!" Julian cried out desperately. "I didn't file that lawsuit alone! Arthur Sterling... the hedge fund billionaire who funded Victoria's father... he was behind everything! He used me! He made me file those injunctions because he wanted access to the terminal grounds!"
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David leaned closer to the phone, his brow furrowing. "Why would Sterling care about a freight terminal?"
"He doesn't care about the trucks, David!" Julian gasped, terror lacing every word. "He wants what's underneath Bay 22! Father hid something there thirty years ago that could destroy Sterling's entire financial empire! Sterling told me if I didn't get him access by midnight tonight... he would make sure Victoria and I disappeared!"
