Chapter 7 - The Night Everything BurnedSmoke filled the hallway.
Fire.
Victor had returned.
Security alarms screamed.
Harlan grabbed Belle.
“Stay behind me.”
I followed.
We reached the east staircase.
Blocked.
The west hall.
Blocked.
Then I remembered something.
“The greenhouse.”
Harlan looked at me.
“There's an underground passage.”
“How do you know?”
“Belle showed me.”
We ran.
Smoke filled the mansion.
Harlan carried Belle.
I opened the hidden passage.
We escaped beneath the garden.
Outside, police vehicles surrounded the property.
Victor had already fled.
But Harlan didn't chase him.
He stayed beside Belle.
That was when I realized something.
The man who had spent his life controlling everything had finally learned what mattered.
Not the empire.
Not the money.
Not revenge.
His daughter.
And maybe me.
Hours later, Victor was arrested at the airport.
The evidence was overwhelming.
Marcus's recordings.
The financial records.
The security footage.
Everything.
But Victor had one final statement.
He claimed Harlan knew about the illegal operations.
If that were true, Harlan could lose everything.
His companies.
His freedom.
His daughter.
I sat beside him that night.
“You're scared.”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
He looked at me.
“Why good?”
“Because scared people finally understand what they have to lose.”
He smiled.
Then reached for my hand.
“I don't want to lose you.”
My heart stopped.
“Harlan…”
“I know.”
He looked down.
“I know what my life is.”
“I don't need you to become someone else overnight.”
“Then what do you need?”
I smiled.
“Choose us.”
May you like
He squeezed my hand.
“I already did.”
