Chapter 18: The Last Attack
By the time we reached Carter Holdings, the entire building was surrounded by security.
Employees stood outside, confused and frightened.
The company that had taken generations to build was suddenly a battlefield.
Jonathan met us at the entrance.
“Emma.””
“What happened?””
He handed me a tablet.
“Landon accessed the executive system.””
My stomach tightened.
“How?””
“Through an old authorization.””
“Daniel?””
Jonathan shook his head.
“No.””
He looked at me.
“Your father.””
Everyone went silent.
My father stepped forward.
“I knew.””
I turned.
“What?””
He looked ashamed.
“Years ago, before I disappeared, Landon forced me to give him temporary access.””
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because I thought I could fix it.””
I closed my eyes.
Another secret.
Another burden carried alone.
But there was no time.
“Can we stop him?””
Jonathan nodded.
“Maybe.””
“Maybe?””
“He’s trying to activate a transfer.””
“To what?””
Jonathan looked at the screen.
“The Donovan Carter Trust.””
My blood ran cold.
Again.
Donovan.
Everything led back to my son.
We rushed upstairs.
The executive floor was empty.
Too empty.
Then we saw him.
Landon stood inside my office.
Looking through the windows at the city below.
“You came.””
I stepped inside.
“Yes.””
He smiled.
“I knew you would.””
“You wanted me here.””
“I wanted you to see.””
“See what?””
He turned.
“That power destroys everyone who touches it.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
His expression hardened.
“You think you’re different.””
“I know I am.””
“Because you’re kind?””
“Because I know what matters.””
He laughed.
“Your grandfather said the same thing.””
“Then maybe he was right.””
His face changed.
“You have no idea what your family sacrificed for this company.””
“No.””
I walked closer.
“But I know what you sacrificed.””
His eyes narrowed.
“Careful.””
“You sacrificed every person who trusted you.””
Silence.
“You used Daniel.””
“He chose.””
“You used Caden.””
“He wanted more.””
“You threatened my mother.””
“She survived.””
“You threatened my son.””
His expression finally changed.
Anger.
“You have no idea what it feels like to watch everything you built disappear.””
I stared at him.
“You didn’t build anything.””
The words hit.
“You inherited someone else’s hatred.””
For the first time, Landon looked lost.
Then the alarm sounded.
Jonathan smiled slightly.
“What did you do?””
I looked at him.
“Nothing.””
Then my father stepped forward.
“I did.””
Landon froze.
My father held up a device.
“Your access.””
Landon’s face changed.
“You recorded everything?””
My father nodded.
“Every conversation.””
The color drained from Landon’s face.
The truth was finally trapped.
Not rumors.
Not accusations.
Proof.
Landon looked at me.
“You think this ends me?””
“Yes.””
He laughed quietly.
“No.””
He looked toward the window.
“This family always survives.””
I stared.
“What did you say?””
He smiled.
Because he knew something I didn’t.
Then my phone buzzed.
A message.
From the trust system.
*Emergency successor update complete.*
I opened it.
My grandfather’s final condition had activated.
The trust was no longer controlled by one person.
It was divided.
Between me.
My mother.
And Donovan.
A system designed to prevent anyone from ever taking everything again.
Landon stared.
“No.””
I looked at him.
“Yes.””
The person who built the trap had finally fallen into it.
But before security arrived, Landon whispered one final sentence.
“You still don’t know who helped me escape.””
I froze.
“What?””
His smile returned.
“Someone opened the door for me.””
The security team entered.
Landon was taken away.
But his final words stayed in my mind.
Because even after everything…
May you like
there was still one person unaccounted for.
And I knew exactly who I had to find.
