CHAPTER 8 — The Billionaire's Greatest Sacrifice
Three days later...
Every news channel in America covered only one story.
THE HAWTHORNE FORTUNE HAS VANISHED.
Financial markets panicked.
Blackwood Technologies lost another twenty percent overnight.
The FBI.
Federal prosecutors.
International banks.
Everyone was searching for the missing billions.
But someone else was searching too.
Adrian Blackwood.
For the first time in years...
He wasn't trying to save his reputation.
He was trying to save Emma.
Late that evening...
Emma received an anonymous text.
Come alone. If you want to see your mother alive.
Attached was a location.
An abandoned train station outside the city.
Mr. Hayes immediately objected.
"It's a trap."
The FBI agreed.
But Emma knew she had no choice.
As she arrived...
The station was empty.
Cold wind echoed through the broken platforms.
Then...
A familiar voice.
"You came."
Emma turned.
Vincent Hawthorne stood there.
He had escaped custody.
Several armed men surrounded the station.
Emma stepped backward.
"You'll never get the money."
Vincent laughed.
"I already have the money."
"I came for something far more valuable."
"What?"
"You."
Before anyone could react...
A black SUV crashed through the station gates.
Adrian jumped out.
"Emma!"
Gunfire erupted.
Chaos exploded.
Bodyguards exchanged fire while Emma ran for cover.
Vincent smiled calmly.
"You still don't understand."
He pointed at Adrian.
"He isn't the villain anymore."
"He's the sacrifice."
Emma frowned.
"What are you talking about?"
Vincent pressed a button on a remote control.
A loud beep echoed beneath the station.
Mr. Hayes screamed through his radio.
"Everyone get out!"
"The entire platform is rigged with explosives!"
Emma looked toward Adrian.
He had already realized it too.
There wasn't enough time for everyone.
Without hesitation...
Adrian slammed the heavy security gate shut behind Emma.
"NO!" Emma screamed.
Adrian smiled for the very first time without arrogance.
"I spent my whole life protecting my company."
"Today..."
"I finally protect a person."
Emma pounded on the locked gate as the countdown echoed through the station.
10...
9...
8...
Adrian looked at her one last time.
"If you ever forgive me..."
"I hope it's because of who I became."
Not who I was.
Emma's tears streamed down her face.
"Adrian!"
Then...
The countdown reached...
3...
2...
1...
A deafening explosion lit up the night sky.
The entire station disappeared beneath fire and collapsing steel.
Emma was thrown to the ground by the shockwave.
When the smoke finally cleared...
Adrian Blackwood was nowhere to be found.
Only his watch...
Still ticking beneath the rubble.
And hundreds of miles away...
On a private island no one knew existed...
A television showed the breaking news.
Emma's mother watched silently.
Then she whispered through tears,
"No..."
"He wasn't supposed to die."
Someone stepped out of the shadows behind her.
A man whose face had never appeared in any Hawthorne file.
May you like
He smiled coldly.
"Now the final phase begins."
