Chapter 397 What Is the Truth?
"What exactly happened?" Ethan asked suspiciously.
Michael sighed. "Years ago, when the Yates Group was selecting the next heir, all three of my sons were potential candidates. I had already decided to name Jimmy as my successor."
"But somehow rumors spread throughout the company that I was planning to give the position to my youngest son James."
"When I heard these rumors, I dismissed them as nonsense. But Jimmy believed gossip. He arranged your kidnapping and staged his own abduction, intending to frame James. Unfortunately, during the police pursuit, Jimmy was accidentally shot and fell from the ship into the sea. That's how he died."
"Is that really what happened?" Ethan asked skeptically.
"That's exactly how things unfolded back then," Michael insisted.
"What about Hawk? Why did he disappear?"
"Perhaps Jimmy was responsible? Maybe he feared Hawk would compete for the inheritance and eliminated him too."
"No!" Ethan said firmly. "Hawk had plastic surgery and has been living among us under a different identity for decades, quietly observing the Yates family's development without ever revealing himself. He's far from simple."
"What are you saying? He had plastic surgery?" Michael gasped.
"Yes. If Jimmy truly orchestrated everything as you described, why would he let himself die? He was the front-runner! Why would he do something so self-destructive? Think about it—who was the overlooked candidate back then?"
After a long pause, Michael replied, "Hawk?"
"Exactly!" Ethan's lips curled into a ruthless smile. "Hawk's disappearance, plastic surgery, and hidden identity are the biggest red flags."
Michael felt uneasy, sensing something ominous approaching.
"You should rest now. I'll have this thoroughly investigated in the morning," Ethan concluded.
It was nearly dawn. Ethan suddenly remembered he still had an unread email.
He opened his laptop and checked his inbox. Diannel had sent surveillance footage from decades ago—grainy but clear enough to make out figures and silhouettes.
In the video, several men lurked in an alley when a masked man approached and handed them a bag. "Here's your money. Don't contact me again."
The men opened the bag, revealing stacks of cash.
"Don't worry, we're leaving now," they assured him.
As the men departed, the masked man looked around cautiously, noticed a security camera across the way, stared directly at it for a moment, then turned and walked away.
Ethan captured a screenshot of the man looking at the camera, enlarged it, and examined it repeatedly. Those eyes were unmistakable. "It's Hawk!"
His eyelid twitched as he pieced together what might have happened all those years ago.
Ethan took out his phone and scrolled through his contacts until he found George's number. After a moment's hesitation, he made the call.
Eventually, George answered groggily, "Hello?"
"Where are you? We need to meet," Ethan stated.
Surprised by Ethan's call, George sobered up quickly. "Meet where?" he stammered.
"I'll send you the location. See you in thirty minutes," Ethan said before hanging up and texting the address.
After changing his clothes, Ethan arrived at the destination. Soon, George appeared, making his way through the noisy dance floor to the private room, hesitating at the door.
"Come in," Ethan's cold voice carried through.
George entered. Having numbed himself with alcohol for over two weeks, the once-handsome man now looked haggard and aged.
"Ethan, what do you want?" he asked.
Swirling his wine glass with an air of complete control, Ethan replied, "Let's discuss the real cause of your father's death."
"My father's death? Wasn't that already investigated?" George asked, surprised.
Ethan tossed a file onto the table. "Read through these, then tell me if that's really what happened."
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