Chapter 5: The Betrayal Inside Castillo Holdings
“It was someone inside Castillo Holdings.””
Vincent Hale’s words changed the atmosphere instantly.
The room, which had already felt heavy, became almost impossible to breathe in.
Leo looked from Vincent to his father.
“Someone who works with you?””
Adrian did not answer immediately.
That silence frightened Leo more than anything.
Because his father always had answers.
Business questions.
School questions.
Life questions.
But now, for the first time, Adrian Castillo looked like a man searching through memories.
Not a billionaire.
Not a president.
A father trying to understand who had placed his child in danger.
Vincent stepped closer.
“The tracker was not professionally installed.””
Adrian looked at him.
“What do you mean?””
“Someone had access to Leo’s backpack before he left the estate.””
Leo frowned.
“Before I left?””
“Yes.””
Vincent nodded.
“The device was placed inside the inner lining. Whoever did it knew exactly where to put it so you would not notice.””
Leo touched the backpack beside him.
The same backpack Victoria had looked at with disgust.
The same backpack she had judged him for carrying.
Now it felt different.
It was no longer just a school bag.
It had become evidence.
“Who had access?”” Adrian asked.
Vincent opened a file on his tablet.
“The household staff. Security. Your assistants. Anyone who entered the west wing this morning.””
Adrian’s expression hardened.
“Names.””
Vincent hesitated.
“Before we accuse anyone, we need proof.””
“I did not ask for accusations.””
Adrian’s voice was quiet.
“I asked for names.””
Vincent nodded.
“Understood.””
He handed over the tablet.
Leo watched as his father scrolled through the list.
Names appeared.
Employees who had worked for the family for years.
People Leo knew.
People who brought him breakfast.
People who greeted him every morning.
The idea that one of them could betray him felt impossible.
Then Adrian stopped.
His finger froze on the screen.
Leo noticed.
“Who?””
Adrian did not respond.
“Dad.””
Finally, he turned the tablet around.
One name.
*Ethan Cross.*
Leo looked confused.
“Who is that?””
Vincent answered.
“Your father’s executive assistant.””
Leo looked at Adrian.
“He works with you?””
“Yes.””
“Is he the one?””
Adrian looked at the screen.
“No.””
The answer came immediately.
Too quickly.
Leo noticed.
“You’re sure?””
Adrian looked at him.
“I trust my judgment.””
“But you don’t know?””
A pause.
Adrian looked away.
That was enough.
Leo understood.
His father trusted Ethan.
But trust was exactly what made betrayal possible.
Vincent received another notification.
He checked it.
“Mr. Castillo.””
“What?””
“We found the access record.””
Adrian stood.
“Where?””
“Your private office.””
The room became silent.
Leo looked around.
His father’s office.
The place where he kept important documents.
The place only a few people could enter.
“Someone put the tracker here?”” Leo asked.
Vincent nodded.
“Not exactly.””
He turned the tablet around.
“The device was activated from this location.””
Adrian’s face changed.
“Impossible.””
“Why?””
“Because this office has restricted access.””
Vincent looked at him.
“Exactly.””
Leo watched the two men.
“Then someone important did it.””
Neither answered.
That was the answer.
Two hours later, Castillo Holdings looked completely different.
The company was still operating.
Employees still walked through the halls.
Meetings still happened.
Phones still rang.
But behind closed doors, an investigation had begun.
And everyone knew something serious had happened.
Leo sat in his father’s private lounge with a glass of water.
He hated waiting.
He hated knowing something was happening but not knowing what.
Finally, the door opened.
Vincent entered.
Leo immediately stood.
“What happened?””
Vincent looked at him.
“Your father wants you to stay here.””
Leo frowned.
“That means something bad happened.””
Vincent almost smiled.
“You are very observant.””
“Because everyone always says that when something is wrong.””
Vincent walked over.
“Leo.””
The boy looked up.
“Sometimes adults try to protect children by hiding difficult truths.””
“I know.””
“But sometimes children deserve honesty.””
Leo waited.
Vincent sighed.
“We found out who accessed the office.””
“Who?””
Vincent looked serious.
“Ethan Cross.””
Leo’s stomach dropped.
“But Dad trusted him.””
“Yes.””
“Then why?””
“We do not know yet.””
Leo walked toward the window.
“Did he hurt anyone?””
“No.””
“Did he try to hurt me?””
Vincent was quiet.
That was enough.
Leo turned.
“Tell me.””
Vincent spoke carefully.
“We found messages between Ethan and an unknown number.””
“What kind of messages?””
“Information.””
“What information?””
Vincent looked at him.
“Your schedule.””
Leo felt cold.
“My schedule?””
“Yes.””
“When I leave home.””
“When you arrive at school.””
“Why would someone want that?””
Vincent did not answer.
Because the answer was obvious.
Someone wanted to know where Leo would be.
Someone wanted access to him.
A ten-year-old child.
Leo sat down.
“I thought this was because of the company.””
Vincent looked at him.
“It is connected.””
“But?””
“But you are also the future of the Castillo family.””
Leo looked uncomfortable.
“I don’t want to be.””
Vincent’s expression softened.
“I know.””
The door opened.
Adrian entered.
The moment Leo saw him, he knew something had changed.
His father looked tired.
Not physically.
Emotionally.
“Dad?””
Adrian sat beside him.
“Ethan admitted everything.””
Leo looked up.
“He did?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Adrian was silent for a moment.
Then answered.
“Money.””
Leo looked down.
“That’s it?””
“Sometimes people convince themselves they have no choice.””
“Did he hate us?””
Adrian shook his head.
“No.””
That surprised Leo.
“He didn’t?””
“No.””
“Then why betray us?””
Adrian looked toward the city.
“Because wanting something badly can make people forget what they already have.””
Leo thought about that.
It was difficult to understand.
But he remembered Victoria.
She had everything.
Money.
Status.
A respected family.
And yet she still looked at him like he had taken something from her.
“Who paid him?””
Adrian and Vincent exchanged a glance.
Leo noticed.
“There’s more.””
Adrian nodded slowly.
“Yes.””
“Who?””
Before Adrian could answer, Vincent’s phone rang.
He checked the screen.
His face changed.
Again.
“Mr. Castillo.””
“What now?””
Vincent walked closer.
“The police contacted us.””
Adrian stood.
“About Ethan?””
“No.””
Vincent looked at Leo.
“About Marcus Vale.””
The name from earlier.
The name that had already appeared twice.
Adrian’s expression became unreadable.
“What about him?””
Vincent swallowed.
“They found evidence that he has been operating under a different identity for the past five years.””
Leo looked between them.
“Meaning?””
Vincent answered quietly.
“Meaning Marcus Vale was never gone.””
The room fell silent.
Adrian walked to the desk.
“Where is he?””
Vincent looked at the message.
“He was seen near Blackwood Academy.””
Leo froze.
The school.
Victoria.
Oliver.
Everything connected.
Adrian immediately turned toward him.
“Leo, you are not going back there.””
“But Oliver—”
“No.””
His father’s voice was firm.
Not angry.
Afraid.
Leo stopped.
He had never heard fear in his father’s voice before.
Adrian lowered himself to Leo’s height.
“Listen to me.””
Leo looked at him.
“This is no longer about someone judging your backpack.””
A pause.
“This is about people using you to reach me.””
Leo swallowed.
For the first time, he understood the danger.
But then his phone buzzed.
A message.
Unknown number.
Leo looked at the screen.
One sentence.
His blood turned cold.
*Your father told you to stay away from Blackwood Academy. Good. That means he is scared.*
Another message appeared.
*But you should know something, Leo.*
The typing bubble appeared.
Then disappeared.
Then one final message arrived.
*Your father is not the only Castillo who has secrets.*
Leo stared at the phone.
And slowly looked up at Adrian.
Because whoever sent the message knew something.
May you like
Something about his family.
Something his father had never told him.
