"Martin Caldwell?"

Daniel nodded.

"He told me the foundation had changed."

"Changed how?"

Daniel looked directly at him.

"They don't want to help people anymore."

Arthur's jaw tightened.

"Then what do they want?"

Daniel's voice dropped to almost a whisper.

"They want control."

Suddenly, a noise came from the ballroom.

A microphone squealed.

Then a voice announced:

"Mr. Arthur Bennett, would you please join us on stage?"

Arthur looked toward the ballroom.

Daniel grabbed his arm.

"No."

Arthur turned.

"What?"

Daniel's eyes were wide.

"Don't go up there."

"Why?"

Daniel whispered four words.

"They're waiting for you."

Arthur stood in the corridor for several seconds.

The voice from the ballroom repeated the invitation.

"Mr. Bennett, please join us on stage."

Eleanor appeared behind him.

She immediately saw his expression.

"What happened?"

Arthur closed his hand around the flash drive.

"Nothing."

She stared at him.

"Arthur."

He looked at Daniel.

"Go home."

Daniel shook his head.

"They'll follow me."

"Then stay with security."

Daniel laughed bitterly.

"Which security?"

Arthur didn't answer.

Eleanor stepped closer.

"Tell me."

Arthur handed her the flash drive.

"Read it later."

She looked at it.

"What is this?"

"Evidence."

Her expression changed.

"Of what?"

"Fraud."

Daniel stepped backward.

"I'm leaving."

Arthur grabbed his shoulder.

"No."

Daniel looked terrified.

"If I stay here, they'll know I talked to you."

"They already know."

Daniel's face fell.

Arthur continued.

"You gave me the drive. There's no going back."

Daniel closed his eyes.

Then he whispered:

"I was afraid you'd never come back."

Arthur frowned.

"What does that mean?"

Daniel looked at him.

"Three years ago, you left the foundation because Eleanor got sick."

Eleanor stiffened.

"I remember."

"They knew you wouldn't be watching."

Arthur's face hardened.

"Who knew?"

Daniel said nothing.

Arthur waited.

Finally, Daniel whispered:

"Martin."

Eleanor looked toward the ballroom.

"Let's go."

They returned to the gala.

Every guest was watching.

Martin stood at the center of the stage.

"Please welcome the man whose vision made tonight possible."

Applause began.

Arthur walked toward the stage.

Eleanor followed.

Martin extended his hand.

Arthur shook it.

The applause grew louder.

Martin leaned toward him.

"Thank you for coming."

Arthur smiled.

"You're welcome."

Martin turned toward the audience.

"For decades, Arthur Bennett has believed that true wealth is measured not by what we keep, but by what we give."

More applause.

Arthur looked around.

People were smiling.

But he noticed something else.

Every member of the foundation's executive committee was watching him.

Not proudly.

Nervously.

Martin continued.

"Tonight, we would like Mr. Bennett to announce the foundation's largest commitment ever."

Arthur turned toward Martin.

"Largest commitment?"

Martin smiled.

"Yes."

He handed Arthur a folder.

Arthur opened it.

His eyes moved across the page.

Eight million dollars.

North Bellmont Renewal Project.

Arthur looked up.

"This is not approved."

The room became quiet.

Martin's smile froze.

"I'm sorry?"

Arthur closed the folder.

"This project was rejected."

Martin laughed softly.

"That was under the old strategy."

"Who authorized the new strategy?"

"The board."

Arthur looked toward the board table.

"Which board?"

Martin's expression changed.

"The current board."

Arthur looked at Eleanor.

She shook her head slightly.

Arthur turned back.

"I am the chairman of the foundation."

Martin smiled carefully.

"Of course."

"Then why was I not informed?"

A silence fell over the room.

Martin stepped closer.

"Perhaps because you haven't attended a board meeting in nearly three years."

Arthur stared at him.

"And whose decision was that?"

Martin didn't answer.

Arthur looked at the audience.

Then he said:

"Cancel the project."

A murmur spread through the room.

Martin's face reddened.

"Mr. Bennett, perhaps this isn't the appropriate place—"

"It is exactly the appropriate place."

Arthur turned toward the microphone.

"North Bellmont will not be demolished."

Someone applauded.

Then another person.

Within seconds, several guests joined.

Martin looked furious.

He leaned toward Arthur.

"You're embarrassing the foundation."

Arthur looked at him.

"No."

His voice was quiet.

"Someone else already did that."

Martin's eyes hardened.

"Be careful."

Arthur smiled.

"I've been careful for seventy-two years."

He walked off the stage.

Eleanor followed.

The moment they reached their table, she whispered:

"He's frightened."

Arthur nodded.

"Yes."

"And angry."

"Yes."

"That means Daniel was telling the truth."

Arthur sat down.

"We need the full accounts."

A young woman suddenly approached their table.

She was in her early thirties, wearing a simple black dress.

Arthur recognized her.

"Rachel."

She looked nervous.

"Mr. Bennett, can I speak to you privately?"

"Of course."

She sat.

"I've been Martin's assistant for four years."

Arthur nodded.

"I know."

"I've seen things."

"What things?"

Rachel lowered her voice.

"Transfers."

"To where?"

"Companies I couldn't identify."

Arthur's eyes narrowed.

"Names."

Rachel pulled out her phone.

"I have screenshots."

She showed him.

Arthur read the company names.

They were all unfamiliar.

But Eleanor recognized one.

"Wait."

She pointed.

"This company owns the land in North Bellmont."

Arthur looked again.

"So the project isn't about housing."

Rachel shook her head.

"It's about the land."

Arthur's voice became cold.

"They want to buy the neighborhood cheap."

"And then build luxury properties."

Rachel nodded.

"But that's not all."

Arthur waited.

Rachel took a breath.

"The foundation has been buying properties through shell companies."

Arthur stared at her.

"How many?"