Chapter 5 - The Ultimate Sacrifice
Maya didn't hesitate. She fired a warning shot that shattered the crystal vase right next to Julian's ear.
"Drop the remote, Julian! The house is surrounded by federal agents!"
"Federal agents who report to me," Julian smirked.
Suddenly, Inspector Vance walked back into the foyer, followed by three tactical officers. But instead of pointing their weapons at Julian, they turned their rifles directly at Maya and Elena!
"Inspector Vance?!" Maya stared in disbelief. "You're working for him?!"
"The Vance Syndicate was never Victoria’s father," Vance said coldly, lowering his badge to reveal a silver crest—the mark of the Siberian mercenary guild. "It belonged to Julian all along. Victoria was just a disposable pawn to draw out Grandfather Blackwood’s hidden accounts."
Julian walked over to Elena, kneeling down until his eyes were inches from hers.
"You see, Elena, everyone thought Victoria was the villain of this story. She was just a loud, arrogant fool who thought she was playing chess. I wrote the script. I bought the security company that installed these CCTV cameras. I let you trap Victoria so you'd think you won!"
He pressed the red button on the remote.
A loud electronic alarm echoed throughout the entire mansion: COUNTDOWN INITIATED: 180 SECONDS TO STRUCTURAL PURGE.
"What did you just do?!" Maya yelled, trying to step forward, but Vance slammed the butt of his rifle against her collarbone, dropping her to the floor.
"I activated the demolition charges planted in the foundation," Julian whispered softly into Elena's ear. "In three minutes, this mansion, Alexander in the basement, and all evidence will crumble into dust. And I will walk away with the $4 billion grandfather just unlocked."
He stood up, buttoning his suit jacket. "Goodbye, little sister-in-law."
Julian turned toward the exit, flanked by Vance and his mercenaries.
As they stepped onto the porch, Elena looked up at the ceiling security camera—the same red light still blinking silently above them.
She pulled out a small black device hidden inside her sleeve.
"Julian..." Elena called out, her voice eerie, devoid of all panic.
May you like
Julian stopped at the threshold, looking back with an amused expression. "Yes?"
"Did you really think Alexander was the only one who learned how to use CCTV?"
