I stood there, taking a slap I never deserved—until the security camera proved I had never touched a thing.

The glass house descended into utter chaos.

Julian screamed in pain, clutching his shattered hand as his ruined pistol skittered across the floor. Vanessa scrambled backward into a corner, sobbing hysterically.

Arthur Thorne’s mercenaries immediately aimed their rifles at the hovering helicopter, but before they could fire, Daniel shouted through a megaphone from the chopper.

“Lower your weapons, Arthur! The perimeter is surrounded by fifty armed Sterling Security personnel! There is nowhere to run!”

Arthur’s eyes darted toward the driveway. Sure enough, a fleet of black armored SUVs was tearing down the dirt road, kicking up massive clouds of dust. He was trapped.

The helicopter slowly touched down on the expansive manicured lawn. Daniel unclipped his harness, leaped out, and sprinted toward the house, his rifle lowered but ready. He burst through the shattered front doors, his eyes instantly locking onto Emily to ensure she was unharmed.

Seeing her standing by the kitchen counter, trembling but safe, the tension in Daniel’s jaw slightly released.

He then turned his blazing glare toward the older man in the black coat.

“Arthur Thorne,” Daniel spat, the hatred radiating from him in waves. “I have dreamed of this day since I was a teenager.”

“Daniel Sterling,” Arthur replied, unfazed by the army surrounding him. “You look just like your father.”

“Do not speak his name!” Daniel roared, closing the distance, stopping just a few feet from the man who ruined his life. “You stole fifty million dollars. You destroyed my family. You destroyed your own daughter’s life. And now, you are going to spend the rest of your miserable existence rotting in a federal supermax.”

Arthur actually laughed. It was a dry, scraping sound that sent chills down Emily’s spine.

“You think I’m the villain of this story, boy?” Arthur sneered, looking between Daniel and Julian, who was still bleeding on the floor. “You think Julian and I orchestrated this grand heist all on our own?”

“The ledger proves it,” Daniel stated firmly.

“The ledger proves where the money went,” Arthur corrected, a wicked glint in his eye. “It doesn't prove who ordered the transfer.”

Daniel froze. “What are you talking about?”

Arthur stepped closer to Daniel, lowering his voice so only he and Emily could hear.

“Julian didn't kill your father, Daniel. And neither did I. Your father’s suicide was staged. The coffin you buried ten years ago was empty.”

The silence in the room was absolute, save for the sound of the ocean crashing against the cliffs below.

“You’re lying,” Daniel whispered, all the color draining from his face.

“Ask Julian,” Arthur taunted, pointing at the bleeding man on the floor. “Ask him who ordered the fifty million to be moved to a private account in Geneva. Ask him who we’ve been answering to for the last ten years.”

Daniel turned slowly, looking down at Julian.