A grieving son stormed into his father’s funeral and screamed a terrifying sentence.

The funeral hall was shrouded in an oppressive silence.

White roses surrounded a luxurious mahogany chest, while the flickering candlelight reflected on the perfectly polished marble.

Hundreds of people, dressed in black, sat under imposing crystal chandeliers.

Victor Sterling’s coffin stood at the front.

Billionaire. Business magnate. Patriarch of the Sterling Empire.

According to the official account, he had died three days earlier from a rare and sudden illness.

Everyone believed it.

Everyone… except his son.

And then, suddenly—

BAM.

The doors of the mourning hall were thrown open with a loud bang.

Startled cries echoed through the room.

A young man stumbled inside.

He gasped for breath. His eyes were red from crying. His tie hung loosely around his neck.

Ethan Sterling.

Victor’s only son.

Everyone present turned to him in surprise.

Because Ethan looked terrified.

Not just sad.

Terrified.

He ran straight to the box.

— Father!
— Father!

His desperate voice echoed through the chapel.

The guests exchanged confused glances.

— What is he doing?
— Has he lost his mind?

But close to the coffin, a woman suddenly turned pale.

Victoria Sterling.

Victor’s second wife.

The grieving widow.

Or at least…

That was the role she had played all that time.

Not a moment earlier had she wiped away her tears with a handkerchief.

Now all the color had drained from her face.

Because Ethan wasn’t supposed to be here.

When the funeral began, he was staying abroad.

His return was not expected until the next day.

Ethan reached the crate.

And then shouted:

— OPEN THE CRATE!

The entire room froze.

Several guests immediately jumped up.

Victoria rushed towards him.

— Nee!

Her voice broke.

— No one may open this chest!

Those present looked at her in disbelief.

Because suddenly…

She seemed terrified.

Not destroyed by grief.

But terrified.

Ethan pointed to the box.

— I have to see him.

Victoria stood in front of him.

Her hands trembled uncontrollably.

— The ceremony is over!

— Leave that box alone!

A wave of whispers went through the room.

Something wasn’t right.

Not at all.

Ethan looked at her for a long time.

Then he slowly took a file out of his jacket.

His hands trembled.

Not out of fear.

Out of anger.

— This morning I received a message from my father.

A deathly silence fell over the room.

Victoria seemed barely able to breathe.

Impossible.

Immediately, unrest arose among those present.

— What?
— That can’t be.
— He’s dead, isn’t he?

Ethan opened the file.

Inside was a printed email, sent only a few hours earlier.

The message contained only six chilling words:

IF YOU RECEIVE THIS MESSAGE, I AM IN DANGER.

Silence fell again.

Victoria took a step back.

— Nee…

Ethan got tears in his eyes.

— My father had scheduled this email weeks ago.

His voice trembled.

— He said that if something unexpected were to happen to him… I shouldn’t trust anyone.

Then he pointed to Victoria.

— Especially not her.

The widow staggered.

Several guests immediately distanced themselves from her.

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