CHAPTER 5 â The Man She Almost Lost
Emma stared at Ryan like she no longer knew him.
"What did you sign?"
Ryan's voice broke.
"A settlement agreement."
Charles smiled with satisfaction.
"Exactly."
Ryan looked at Emma, desperate.
"Your father offered me two million dollars to disappear."
Emma's eyes filled with tears.
"And you took it?"
"No."
Ryan pulled another folder from inside his coat.
"I took the meeting."
Charles's smile vanished.
Ryan placed a small recording device on the table.
"Because Judge Harper told me we needed proof."
The room went completely still.
Judge Harper nodded.
"Mr. Lawson has been threatening witnesses for years."
Ryan pressed play.
Charles's voice filled the boardroom.
"Take the money and leave my daughter, or I will destroy your career, your family, and every future you think you have."
Emma covered her mouth.
The recording continued.
"Emma belongs to this family."
"Everything she is..."
"I paid for."
Evelyn began to cry.
Charles lunged for the device, but security stepped forward.
Ryan looked at Emma.
"I never betrayed you."
"I was scared."
"But I never sold you."
Emma's tears fell harder.
Charles shouted, "This means nothing!"
But the board members were already whispering.
The attorney turned to Emma.
"With this recording, we can freeze his personal accounts immediately."
Charles went white.
"My accounts?"
Judge Harper's voice was calm.
"Yes."
"Because most of that money may have been stolen from the company trust."
For the first time...
Charles Lawson looked small.
Then Emma's grandmother stood.
Her voice was soft.
But every person listened.
"Charles, your father warned me this day would come."
Charles slowly turned toward her.
She reached into her purse.
And pulled out one final sealed envelope.
"He left one last letter."
She handed it to Emma.
May you like
On the front were five words:
For Emma, when she is free.
