Sarah knew that taking the fight to her father would be risky. Henry Bennett didn’t lose—not in business, and certainly not in family matters. But she also knew that if she didn’t act soon, he would continue to tear apart everything she held dear.
The first step in her plan was to gather information. She needed leverage, something that could put her on equal footing with Henry, or at least give her a fighting chance. She wasn’t naive; she knew that her father’s empire was built on more than just legitimate business deals. There had to be something—some secret or weakness—that could expose his control for what it was.
Liam was hesitant at first when Sarah mentioned the idea. “You’re talking about going after your father’s secrets,” he said, concern lacing his voice. “That’s dangerous territory, Sarah. He won’t just sit back and let you dig into his life.”
“I know,” Sarah replied, her voice firm. “But I can’t keep letting him win. If I don’t do something now, he’ll destroy everything. This is my chance to finally break free.”
Liam sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Alright. I’m with you, whatever you decide. But we need to be smart about this. If we’re going to go after him, we need to be prepared for whatever he might throw our way.”
With Liam’s support, Sarah began her investigation. She started with the obvious—old family connections, business associates, and anyone who might have insight into how Henry had built his empire. Most people were unwilling to talk, either out of loyalty or fear, but a few whispers led her to one name: *Oliver Langston*.
Oliver had been one of Henry’s closest business partners years ago, a man who had mysteriously vanished from the public eye. Rumor had it that he had a falling out with Henry, and some even said that Henry had forced him out of the company entirely. If anyone knew where the bodies were buried—figuratively speaking—it would be Oliver.
Tracking him down wasn’t easy. Oliver had gone off the grid after his departure from Bennett Enterprises, living quietly in a small coastal town far from the city’s reach. When Sarah finally found him, he was a shadow of the man he had once been—his once-powerful presence replaced by a weary, haunted look.
“You’ve got guts, showing up here,” Oliver said when Sarah approached him at a small café near the beach. His voice was rough, like a man who had seen too much. “Do you have any idea who your father really is?”
“I’m starting to,” Sarah replied, taking a seat across from him. “That’s why I’m here. I need your help, Oliver. He’s trying to destroy my life, and I need to know how to stop him.”
Oliver’s eyes darkened. “You can’t stop him. Henry Bennett doesn’t lose, and he certainly doesn’t forgive. I tried to go up against him once, and it cost me everything.”
“What happened between you two?” Sarah asked, her curiosity piqued. “Why did you leave the company?”
Oliver hesitated for a moment before leaning in closer. “Henry’s empire isn’t as clean as it looks on the outside. He built it by making deals with people you don’t want to cross. He’s got dirt on everyone, and he uses it to stay on top. The moment you challenge him, he pulls the rug out from under you. That’s what he did to me. I tried to expose him, and he ruined me.”
Sarah’s heart pounded in her chest. This was what she needed—confirmation that her father’s power wasn’t as untouchable as it seemed. But it also confirmed her worst fear: going up against him would come at a steep price.
“I need proof,” Sarah said, her voice steady despite the fear bubbling beneath the surface. “Something that will show the world who he really is.”
Oliver looked at her with a mixture of pity and admiration. “You’re brave, I’ll give you that. But you’re also walking into the lion’s den. I can’t give you what you’re asking for—not without putting myself in danger. But I can point you in the right direction.”
He handed her a slip of paper with an address scribbled on it. “Go to this place. There’s a man named Victor who used to work for Henry. If anyone can help you, it’s him. But be careful, Sarah. Once you start down this path, there’s no turning back.”
Sarah thanked Oliver and left the café, her mind racing with the possibilities. She was closer than ever to uncovering the truth, but she also knew that each step forward put her deeper into the crosshairs of her father’s wrath.
As she drove back to the city, Liam called her. “How did it go?”
“I’ve got a lead,” Sarah said, gripping the steering wheel tightly. “But this is bigger than I thought, Liam. My father’s been playing a game, and I’m about to go all in.”