“Go down to the river where the crocodiles wait,” she whispered — her tone deceptively soft, dripping with venom. A second later, a violent shove between my shoulder blades sent me plunging into the dark, churning waters of the Amazon. In that moment, betrayal cut deeper than the river’s current.
My name is Richard Wallace — founder of Wallace Global Group, a multibillion-dollar enterprise I built from nothing. At seventy-one, I believed I had survived every kind of treachery the business world could offer. Yet nothing prepared me for betrayal from the two people I trusted most — my own son, Nathan, and his wife, Clara.
The journey began as a family getaway, a luxury cruise along the Amazon meant to “reconnect.” The invitation had come from Nathan, who insisted it would be good for all of us. I should have known better. The river was beautiful but unforgiving — dense jungle on both sides, thick humidity, and a silence that seemed to breathe.
Over lunch on the yacht, the conversation took a sinister turn. “Dad,” Nathan said lightly, “don’t you think it’s time to let someone else steer the ship?” His wife smiled, her words like honey masking poison. “You’ve done enough, Richard. You deserve to rest.”
It was clear what they wanted — control of the company, the fortune, and everything I’d built through decades of sacrifice. Their polite tones couldn’t hide the greed burning in their eyes.
As the sun began to set, our yacht slowed near a narrow bend known for crocodile sightings. Clara approached me, her perfume heavy in the thick air. She smiled, leaned close, and whispered, “Go down to the river where the crocodiles wait.” Then came the shove.
The world flipped — sky, water, chaos. I hit the surface hard, sinking fast. Above, I saw their silhouettes, motionless, watching as I disappeared beneath the surface. That was the moment I understood: my family had turned predator.
But the river didn’t take me. Not that day. And as I dragged myself onto the muddy shore, one thought kept me alive — if greed had made them ruthless, vengeance would make me stronger.