Chapter 21: The True Culprit Behind the Scenes

Inside the villa, firelight from the fireplace danced and flickered, casting Manuel's pale, desperate face in alternating light and shadow.

"I'll talk! I'll tell you everything!"

Under the enormous threat to his family's safety, Manuel, who had kept the Drake family's secrets for half his lifetime, completely broke down.

"The assassination back then had a simple purpose—to seize the Rosenberg family's wealth!"

"Emily was Mira's only daughter and the legal heir to the family. Once she died, the inheritance rights would fall to others."

"The Drake family had been eyeing the Rosenberg family's investment bank for a long time, but an external acquisition was impossible. So Mr. Drake came up with a vicious plan—to install a puppet family head and destroy the Rosenberg family from within."

Leo took a deep drag on his cigar, his eyes cold. "Keep going."

"The ones who carried out the assassination weren't ordinary killers..."

Manuel swallowed hard, his voice filled with fear. "It was a mysterious organization, code-named Nightfall. This organization is extremely powerful, with a global reach, specializing in shady assassination jobs."

"They say this organization has bases in Europe, the Middle East, and South America. They never fail, and they charge astronomical fees. For that assassination years ago, the Drake family paid twenty million dollars."

Olivia frowned. "Nightfall... I think I've heard that name in Europe. Rumor has it they're backed by arms dealers and intelligence agencies from certain countries."

"That's right. This organization is very secretive. To contact them, you have to go through specific dark web channels. I have an encrypted contact method here..."

Manuel walked to his study, pulled out an old flip phone from a safe, and handed it to Leo. "This phone has a number in it. When you call, someone will answer. But they only accept commissions from specific clients, and you have to verify your identity first..."

Leo took the phone and casually tossed it to Olivia. "Crack it and find leads on this organization."

"Yes, sir!"

"Now tell me about the traitor."

Leo stubbed out his cigar and said coldly, "Who in the Rosenberg family betrayed Emily?"

Nightfall was nothing but a bunch of rats hiding in the gutter as far as he was concerned!

What he truly hated were the traitors!

Manuel took a deep breath and finally spoke the name. "The family head, Arthur's wife, Caroline Rosenberg. And... Emily's uncle, Emily's father's younger brother, Edward Rosenberg."

"Arthur's wife?" Leo narrowed his eyes.

"That's right," Manuel said through gritted teeth. "Caroline comes from another powerful New York family—the Vanderbilt family. This family's influence in New York rivals the Rosenberg family's, and they've always wanted to infiltrate the Rosenberg family's inner circle."

"Arthur himself is actually an adopted son of the Rosenberg family, not Mira's biological son. Back then, Mira had no children and adopted him. But because of the blood issue, Arthur's position within the family was always awkward."

"Emily, as Mira's biological daughter, was the true heir. Arthur could only ever be an acting family head."

"Caroline's family, the Vanderbilts, saw an opportunity. They secretly contacted the Drake family and promised that if they got rid of Emily, they'd help Arthur secure his position as family head. And the Vanderbilt family could get a piece of the pie through Caroline."

Leo let out a cold laugh. "What a calculation. The Drake family gets to absorb the assets, the Vanderbilt family infiltrates the family, and Arthur solidifies his position."

Sure enough, the truly sinister ones weren't the hired killers, but those so-called family members.

"Exactly."

Manuel slumped onto the sofa and lit a cigarette. "As for Edward... he wasn't after the family head position. But with Mira being so strong, he had no chance to profit. Once Emily died, he became the second in line after Arthur, and he could get a huge share of the fortune."

Leo was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly asked, "Was Arthur involved?"

"Well..." Manuel hesitated. "Back then, he probably wasn't. Caroline was very secretive about it, and Arthur was still an honest man at the time, focused on doing well as family head. He couldn't have been involved in something like this."

"But now... twenty-plus years have passed. Sleeping next to her every night, could he really not know anything? I can't say for sure. Maybe he found out long ago and just turned a blind eye. After all, he's the one who benefited."

Leo understood.

Whether Arthur knew back then or not, he likely chose silence after learning the truth, for the sake of power and status.

"Olivia."

"Yes!"

"Take Manuel away and arrange a safe house. Also, send people to Miami and Los Angeles to protect his family."

Leo stood up, his eyes cold. "Anyone who dares approach them, kill on sight."

"Yes, sir!"

Olivia stepped forward and pulled Manuel up from the ground.

Manuel's face was full of gratitude. "Thank you... thank you, Mr. Ashford..."

"Don't thank me yet."

Leo turned his head, a flash of killing intent in his eyes. "When this is over, I'll need you to personally identify those traitors."

"I... I understand..."

An hour later.

The Rosenberg Mansion, private reception room on the third floor of the main building.

Mira sat in her wheelchair. After hearing Leo's report, her whole body trembled with rage.

"Caroline... Edward... those bastards!"

Mira slammed the wheelchair armrest, veins bulging on the back of her aged hand. "I treated them well! Caroline married into this family twenty years ago, and I never wronged her! Edward's gambling debts—I was the one who helped him pay them off!"

"And they... they joined forces to kill my daughter!"

Chloe stood nearby, her eyes red and rimmed with tears that kept falling.

That was her mother...

Killed by her own relatives, by traitors within the family!

"Grandmother..." Chloe choked out. "We must avenge Mother!"

"We will."

Mira took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.

She had been in power at the Rosenberg family for decades—what storms hadn't she weathered?

Grief was allowed, but she couldn't let anger cloud her judgment.

"None of them will be spared! Not a single one!"

Mira took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down, then turned to look at a figure standing in the shadows.

It was her most trusted confidant, the Rosenberg family's chief security officer—Victor.

"Victor."

"Mrs. Rosenberg." Victor stepped forward and knelt on one knee.

"Take immediate covert action—arrest Edward! And secretly monitor Caroline... Remember, don't alert anyone!"

"Yes, ma'am!"

"Also..."

A cold gleam flashed in Mira's eyes. "In my name, send notice to all core family members. Tomorrow morning at ten o'clock, there will be an emergency meeting in the family council chamber. Everyone must attend!"

Victor was left to carry out his orders.

"Mr. Ashford."

Mira looked at Leo. "I need you to do me a favor."

"Please, go ahead." Leo nodded.

Mira spoke slowly. "Tomorrow I'll convene a family meeting. At that time, all core members of the Rosenberg family must be present. I want to publicly reveal the truth from twenty years ago in front of everyone and execute those traitors! Including Arthur, whether he knew or not!"

"At the same time..."

Mira looked at Chloe, her eyes full of affection. "I will also formally announce Chloe's identity at that moment. Let all of New York know that the true heir of the Rosenberg family has returned!"