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Chapter 12: The Trap Is Set

last update Last Updated: 2025-01-03 15:11:14

The next day began with an air of determination as Adrian and I set out to locate Marcus Blake, Victor Callahan’s elusive former business partner. The name felt like a beacon in the haze of unanswered questions surrounding my claim to the estate. If anyone could shed light on Victor’s cryptic message and the deeper truths of my mother’s struggles, it was Marcus.

But I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were being watched.

Adrian arranged for a private investigator to track down Marcus, but as we waited for leads, something unexpected happened. Late that afternoon, I received an invitation to a charity gala hosted by the Callahan Foundation—an event I hadn’t been informed about by anyone in the family.

Adrian frowned as he read over the gold-embossed card. “This doesn’t make sense. Victoria didn’t mention this, did she?”

“No,” I said, a knot forming in my stomach. “She’d never invite me willingly. This feels... off.”

“It’s definitely a setup,” Adrian muttered. “But you have to go. If y
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