Dawn came slowly, but for Ethan, the night was not yet truly over.
The sky outside the safe house began to change color, from deep black to pale gray. Police lights had been turned off, some officers were starting to leave the scene, but the remnants of chaos were still clearly visible.
Shattered window glass.
Bullet holes in the walls.
And air filled with unanswered questions.
Ethan stood near the window, looking out at the street that was growing quiet.
His mind was still stuck on a single sentence that kept circling in his head.
That man is your father.
Daniel stood behind him with both arms crossed over his chest.
"We can't just trust Victor's story," he said finally.
Ethan did not turn around.
"I know."
Victor Hale sat on the sofa with a pale face. He looked like someone who had just opened a door to hell.
"I'm telling the truth," he mumbled weakly.
Leonard Graves stood a few steps away from them, watching everyone calmly.
"I believe Victor."
Daniel turned quickly.
"You believe him?"
Leonard shrugged lightly.
"At least partially."
Daniel sighed.
"An explanation from you would be very helpful."
Leonard walked slowly toward the table where Daniel's laptop was still running.
The screen displayed the Elena Ward recording file they had found earlier.
Leonard pointed at the screen.
"Elena wasn't stupid."
He continued,
"If she decided to fight Helix, that means she knew who was really at the top of the organization."
Ethan finally spoke up.
"And you think my father is that person?"
Leonard looked straight at him.
"I'm not saying that."
"Then what are you saying?"
Leonard smiled faintly.
"I'm saying the possibility exists."
Daniel shook his head.
"That's too big a leap."
Leonard said casually,
"Which is exactly why it makes sense."
He looked at Ethan.
"Helix isn't a small organization. They have political, financial, even military influence."
He paused for a moment.
"Marcus Sterling is just the public face of something far larger."
Victor bowed his head.
"That's what Elena told me."
Daniel turned to him.
"What?"
Victor slowly lifted his head.
"A few weeks before she died… Elena said Helix wasn't just a shadow company."
He took a deep breath.
"She called it… a family network."
Daniel frowned.
"Family?"
Victor nodded.
"Influential people who protect each other."
Leonard spoke softly,
"An exclusive club."
Ethan narrowed his eyes.
"And you think my father is part of that club?"
Leonard replied calmly,
"Haven't your family always had connections to powerful people?"
Ethan did not answer immediately.
Daniel noticed his expression.
"You never mentioned that before."
Ethan finally said,
"My family does have political connections."
He continued in a flat voice.
"But that doesn't mean they kill people."
Leonard did not argue.
He simply said,
"Connections like that often come with a price."
The room fell silent again.
A few seconds later Daniel said,
"We need proof."
Ethan nodded.
"Yes."
Leonard smiled faintly.
"Fortunately, I have an idea."
Daniel looked at him suspiciously.
"I'm not sure I'll like this."
Leonard stepped closer.
"Marcus Sterling."
Ethan tensed immediately.
"What about him?"
Leonard said,
"If your father is really involved… Marcus must know."
Daniel raised an eyebrow.
"And how do we make Marcus talk?"
Leonard replied casually,
"We pressure him."
Victor looked panicked right away.
"That's crazy."
Daniel said,
"Marcus has troops and unlimited money."
Leonard nodded.
"True."
He paused for a moment before continuing.
"But he also has something to lose."
Ethan stared at him sharply.
"Like what?"
Leonard turned to Daniel.
"The financial data you found yesterday."
Daniel thought for a moment before finally understanding.
"You want us to attack his company."
Leonard smiled.
"Exactly."
Victor shook his head quickly.
"That would start a war."
Ethan said softly,
"The war has already begun."
Daniel let out a long sigh.
"If we do this, there's no turning back."
Leonard replied lightly,
"No one ever truly can turn back."
Ethan walked to the table and stared at the laptop screen.
The financial data for Marcus Sterling's company was still open.
Large numbers, hidden transactions, and complex money trails.
Daniel said,
"If we leak some of this to the public…"
Leonard finished,
"…investors will panic."
Victor whispered,
"And Marcus will lose billions."
Ethan said coldly,
"He'll be forced out of hiding."
Daniel looked at him.
"And we'll be waiting when that happens."
Leonard smiled in satisfaction.
"Now you're starting to think like real players."
But before they could continue their discussion
Ethan's phone suddenly vibrated in his pocket.
Everyone turned to look at him.
Ethan pulled out his phone.
The number appearing on the screen made his expression change.
Daniel noticed.
"What's wrong?"
Ethan did not answer right away.
He just stared at the screen for a few seconds before finally answering the call.
"Hello."
The voice on the other end was calm.
But Ethan recognized it immediately.
Marcus Sterling.
"Finally you answer my call," Marcus said.
Ethan said coldly,
"How dare you call me after tonight?"
Marcus laughed softly.
"Tonight?"
He continued in a casual tone.
"Do you really think that attack was from me?"
Daniel and Leonard exchanged glances.
Ethan narrowed his eyes.
"It wasn't?"
Marcus said,
"I'm not stupid enough to attack you directly."
He paused for a moment.
"Especially when you're with Leonard Graves."
Leonard smiled faintly when he heard his name mentioned.
Ethan said,
"If it wasn't you, then who was it?"
Marcus replied,
"That's a very good question."
He continued in a slightly lower voice.
"And if you're smart enough, you already know the answer."
Ethan did not speak.
Marcus said softly,
"But I didn't call about that."
Daniel stepped closer slightly, trying to hear the conversation.
Marcus continued,
"I called to give you a warning."
Ethan said coldly,
"From whom?"
Marcus laughed softly again.
"From your father."
The room felt like it had frozen over.
Daniel looked at Ethan.
Leonard was also paying serious attention now.
Marcus said,
"He's very unhappy that you're digging into the past."
Ethan felt his heart beating faster.
"Stop playing games."
Marcus replied,
"I'm not playing."
He continued in a far more serious tone.
"If I were you, Ethan… I'd stop now."
Ethan said softly,
"Why?"
Marcus answered with a single sentence that made Ethan's blood run cold.
"Because you're not ready to find out who your father really is."
The call disconnected immediately.
Ethan still held the phone in his hand.
The room was silent for several seconds.
Daniel finally asked,
"What did he say?"
Ethan looked at them.
His face was now harder than before.
"He said something interesting."
Leonard crossed his arms.
"Like what?"
Ethan took a deep breath before answering.
"Marcus said the attack tonight wasn't on his orders."
Victor tensed immediately.
Daniel frowned.
"Then that means."
Ethan cut him off in a low voice.
"And he said my father knows I've been investigating."
Leonard raised an eyebrow.
"That's quite a development."
Ethan looked out the window again.
The sky was now truly starting to brighten.
But for Ethan, the world felt increasingly dark.
Because one thing was now clear.
If Marcus was telling the truth.
then their greatest enemy might not be Marcus Sterling.
But someone Ethan had always called… Father.