Chapter 11 - THE CONFESSION
Adrian stepped onto the stage.
A camera faced him from the balcony. Another pointed at Emma.
Evelyn handed him a sheet of paper.
“Read it.”
He glanced down.
The confession described murders, bribery, blackmail, and illegal transfers made in his name.
“If I sign this,” Adrian said, “you release Emma?”
“You sign first.”
“No.”
Evelyn pressed the knife closer to Emma’s neck.
A thin line of blood appeared.
Claire made a broken sound.
Adrian’s hands curled into fists.
The lawyer lifted a phone. “Every major news network is waiting. Once this is broadcast, the Vale empire falls. Your enemies take control. Your mother becomes untouchable.”
“You think I’ll let you frame me?”
“I think you’ll do anything for your child.”
Adrian looked at Emma.
She was terrified, but she was still watching him.
He remembered her holding his finger.
Come on, Grumpy.
He lowered his voice. “Emma, look at me.”
Her eyes met his.
“Do you remember what I told you?”
“You said to count when I’m scared.”
“That’s right. Count.”
She swallowed. “One.”
Evelyn frowned.
“Two,” Emma whispered.
Adrian moved.
He kicked the stage light toward the camera. Darkness swallowed the ballroom.
Claire rushed to Emma.
The lawyer fired blindly.
Adrian tackled Evelyn as the bullet struck the portrait behind them.
Claire cut Emma’s restraints with the knife.
Security guards stormed through the doors, but they were met by gunfire from Adrian’s team, who had secretly entered through the basement.
The ballroom became chaos.
Adrian fought the lawyer across the stage.
The older man swung the ledger like a weapon. Adrian blocked the blow and drove him against the railing.
“You killed my wife,” Adrian growled.
“I only carried out Evelyn’s order.”
Evelyn tried to flee.
Claire intercepted her.
“You stole seven years from us.”
Evelyn slapped her.
Claire staggered, then struck Evelyn across the face.
For the first time, Evelyn looked afraid.
A hidden alarm began to scream.
The ballroom doors locked automatically.
Smoke poured from the ceiling.
The old hotel had been rigged to burn.
Adrian grabbed Emma and shouted for everyone to move.
The floor beneath the stage collapsed.
The lawyer fell through the opening, clutching the ledger.
Adrian reached for him.
The man looked up.
“Save the book,” he gasped. “Or lose everything.”
May you like
Then the flames swallowed him.
Cliffhanger: The ledger disappeared into the fire while Adrian, Claire, and Emma were trapped inside.
