VEIL OF DESTINY :THE HIDDEN HEIR ASSERT

The room fell into silence. The weight of Samantha's presence was suffocating, stirring memories Ochieng had long buried. The betrayal. The nights spent in the cold, wondering why she had chosen to leave. The silent vow he made to never let himself be weak again.

But here she was, standing before him, seeking his protection.

Ochieng's fingers tapped rhythmically against the table. "You expect me to believe that after all these years, you suddenly care about what happens to me?"

Samantha bit her lip, her eyes darting between Magdalene and Tielen. "You don't have to trust me. But you need to trust what I know. Lucian and Veronica were never the real players. They were puppets. And the one pulling the strings has finally decided it's time to act."

Magdalene's sharp gaze landed on Samantha. "Why should we believe you?"

Samantha hesitated before reaching into her bag. She pulled out a small black device and slid it across the table. "Because I have proof."

Ochieng picked up the device and pressed play.

A grainy video appeared on the screen. A meeting room, dimly lit. Several figures sat around a table. One of them was Lucian, his expression tense. Another was Veronica. But it was the man at the head of the table that made Ochieng's eyes darken.

A voice crackled through the speakers. "Ochieng has outlived his usefulness. It's time to erase him from the board."

The voice was deep, authoritative. Familiar.

Tielen's face paled. "That's—"

Ochieng's grip tightened on the device. He already knew who it was.

The man who once called him 'son.'

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