The Madu Group's internal audit continued through the week. Tension gripped the office like an invisible noose—silent, suffocating. Staff moved cautiously, and even longtime executives watched their backs.
Alexander barely slept. He stayed up reviewing records, questioning his team, following trails of coded transactions and dead ends. He didn't speak much, but Maria could see the toll in his eyes.
She sat beside him one morning, brushing his hair back gently. "You can't find the truth if you burn yourself out."
"I have to know," he said quietly. "Who's doing this to us."
---
Later that day...
An alert pinged on Alexander's private tablet. It was from the head of cybersecurity.
"Found match. Unauthorized access traced to personal IP. Identity confirmed: Richard Osei."
Alexander's blood ran cold.
Richard had been with him since the early days of his fortune—his mentor, his confidant, the man who'd supported him during hostile takeovers and family betrayals. The thought that he had been stealing from him was unbearable.
He slammed the tablet down and stormed out of the office.
---
At Richard's estate...
Maria insisted on coming. She had a gut feeling there was more to the betrayal than money.
They arrived unannounced.
Richard opened the door in his robe, surprised, but not frightened.
"You've been stealing from me," Alexander said without preamble.
Richard's face twitched, but he said nothing.
"Why?" Alexander demanded. "You had everything—power, trust, family."
"You took my place," Richard hissed. "It should've been me running this empire. I built the groundwork with your father, I raised you to lead—and then you pushed me aside like I was obsolete."
Alexander stared in disbelief.
"I never sidelined you."
"You didn't have to. You married your power. You started building legacies—without me."
Maria stepped forward, voice firm. "So you decided to tear everything down?"
Richard sneered. "You think this is over? That was just the foundation. The real collapse hasn't even begun."
Alexander clenched his fists. "I'll make sure you pay for every cent, Richard. You won't touch another part of my company. Or my family."
Richard looked at Maria, his eyes cold. "It's not always the thief outside that brings the house down. Sometimes, it's the one sleeping inside it."
Back at the penthouse...
Maria sat by the window in silence as Junior napped beside her. She felt the weight of Richard's words lingering like poison.
Alexander poured a glass of scotch and handed it to her. "He's done. We'll press charges tomorrow."
But Maria wasn't so sure.
Because as much as Richard betrayed them, she could feel it in her bones—someone else was helping him.
And they weren't finished.