Chapter 8 - THE LAST GAMEThe photograph contained coordinates.
Noah followed them to an abandoned mansion outside Boston.
Grace insisted on coming.
They entered together.
Noah found Emily inside the library.
She was sitting quietly.
Richard stood behind her.
“Let her go.”
Richard smiled.
“You've become sentimental.”
Noah stepped forward.
“You lost.”
“No.”
Richard pointed toward the ceiling.
“You did.”
A screen came alive.
It showed Noah's company board.
Richard had transferred control of several subsidiaries.
The acquisition was collapsing.
Noah's empire was being dismantled.
Richard laughed.
“You spent seven years building a billion-dollar company.”
He leaned closer.
“And you lost it in one afternoon.”
Noah looked at Emily.
She was frightened but calm.
Then she whispered:
“Dad.”
Noah smiled.
“It's okay.”
Richard raised an eyebrow.
“You really think love saves people?”
Noah looked at him.
“No.”
He pressed a button on his phone.
“Evidence does.”
The doors opened.
Federal investigators entered.
Richard froze.
Noah's security team had recorded everything.
The entire conversation.
The financial transfers.
The threats.
The confession.
Richard looked at Evelyn.
She stepped backward.
“I never agreed to this.”
Richard stared at her.
“You stupid woman.”
She began crying.
“I wanted the company.”
Richard laughed bitterly.
“And now neither of us gets it.”
The investigators arrested them both.
Emily ran to Noah.
He caught her.
Grace stood nearby.
For a moment, none of them spoke.
Then Emily looked at Grace.
“Can we go home?”
Grace smiled through tears.
“Yes.”
Noah looked at her.
“Together?”
Grace hesitated.
She wasn't ready to forgive seven years overnight.
May you like
But she wasn't ready to walk away either.
“Together.”
