Chapter 7 - THE ENGINEER ERASED FROM HIS OWN INVENTION.
Samuel Reed had designed the fire-suppression system used in every Whitmore hotel.
Because he worked maintenance, the family patented it under Mr. Whitmore’s name and paid him a weekly wage.
Victoria sneered.
“A technician does not become family because he had an affair with a maid.”
Maria answered, “You used his invention and my labor, then called both of us beneath you.”
Samuel’s death had been ruled accidental, but the original report showed the alarms were disabled before the fire.
He had planned to transfer his patent rights to the worker trust that morning.
Leah refused to claim the company through blood.
“Biology does not make me more deserving than the people who funded these walls.”
The elected council placed all shares under independent review.
Mr. Whitmore admitted Samuel survived the fire long enough to name the person who cut the alarms.
A sealed recording played his final statement.
He said, “Ethan’s mother gave the order.”
May you like
Ethan stared toward the ballroom entrance.
His mother, Eleanor Whitmore, had just arrived.
