Chapter 14 - “Everyone stay where you are.”Thomas stood beneath the clock.
His men spread across the room.
Arthur moved closer to the children.
“You're not getting them.”
Thomas smiled.
“I don't need them.”
He raised the detonator.
“I need you.”
Arthur stared.
“Why?”
“Because the trust doesn't transfer without your authorization.”
Thomas held up the original documents.
“I have everything else.”
Arthur looked at Lucy.
She whispered,
“He's lying.”
Thomas laughed.
“Still playing the hero, sister?”
Lucy tightened her grip on the pistol.
“You always were afraid of Father.”
Thomas shrugged.
“I was afraid of his money.”
Arthur stepped forward.
“What did my father know?”
Thomas smiled.
“Enough to destroy all of us.”
Arthur waited.
Thomas finally said,
“He knew Lucy killed him.”
Lucy lowered her weapon.
Arthur turned.
“You admitted it.”
“I did.”
“But Thomas ordered the operation.”
Lucy nodded.
“Yes.”
Thomas pointed at Arthur.
“And your father left you the company because he wanted you to finish his war.”
Arthur stared.
“What war?”
Thomas laughed.
“The war against everyone who betrayed him.”
Arthur looked at the documents.
The trust wasn't merely an inheritance.
It was evidence.
Account numbers.
Names.
Secret companies.
Politicians.
Bankers.
Executives.
People who had stolen billions over decades.
Thomas wanted the documents because they could destroy half the people around him.
Lucy wanted them because they could prove what happened to her.
Richard wanted the trust because he wanted the money.
Isabella wanted the children alive.
And Arthur...
Arthur was the only person standing between all of them.
Thomas pressed the detonator.
“There are explosives beneath this tower.”
Chloe's face changed.
“How many?”
“Enough.”
Arthur remained calm.
“What do you want?”
“Sign.”
Arthur looked at the children.
“What happens if I do?”
Thomas smiled.
“They leave.”
“And if I don't?”
Thomas raised the detonator.
“They don't.”
Emily suddenly stepped forward.
“Uncle Thomas.”
Thomas looked at her.
“You said you loved my daddy.”
His smile faded.
“You said you only wanted the company.”
Thomas stared.
Emily continued,
“Then why did you try to kill him?”
Silence.
Thomas's face hardened.
“Children shouldn't talk about things they don't understand.”
Emily pointed at the clock.
“You forgot something.”
Thomas frowned.
“What?”
She smiled.
“Grandpa told me the clock lies.”
Thomas looked at Arthur.
Arthur understood.
The clock.
The hidden room.
The explosives.
The wiring.
This wasn't the real clock.
It was a decoy.
Arthur rushed forward.
Lucy fired.
Thomas ducked.
The room exploded into movement.
Chloe tackled one gunman.
Arthur grabbed the detonator.
Thomas punched him.
They crashed against the wall.
Emily pulled Ethan toward the stairs.
“Run!”
The timer began counting down.
Three minutes.
Arthur fought Thomas.
Thomas shouted,
“You think you're better than me?”
“No.”
Arthur hit him.
“I think I'm done being used.”
Thomas reached for the detonator.
Arthur kicked it away.
Lucy grabbed Thomas.
“It's over.”
Thomas smiled.
“No.”
He pressed a hidden button.
The tower began shaking.
Arthur looked down.
The timer had changed.
00:30.
Thomas laughed.
“Too late.”
Arthur grabbed both children.
“RUN!”
They raced down the stairs.
Chloe followed.
Lucy stayed behind.
Arthur turned.
“Lucy!”
She looked at him.
“Go.”
“Come with us!”
She smiled.
“For once, I'm going to do something for this family without destroying it.”
Arthur shouted,
“Lucy!”
She locked the iron door.
Then she turned toward Thomas.
The explosion came seconds later.
The clock tower shook.
Stone collapsed.
Arthur screamed her name.
Silence followed.
Then smoke.
The police rushed forward.
Arthur stood frozen.
He thought she was gone.
Until a hand touched his shoulder.
He turned.
Lucy stood behind him.
Covered in dust.
Alive.
She smiled.
“You really thought I'd die twice?”
Arthur laughed through tears.
But before anyone could speak, the police officer ran toward them.
“Mr. Vale!”
“What?”
He held up a phone.
“We found Thomas's last message.”
Arthur read it.
Only one line:
YOU THINK THIS IS OVER? ASK WHO RAISED ETHAN.
Arthur slowly looked at his son.
Ethan's face had gone pale.
“Daddy…”
“What?”
Ethan whispered:
“I remember now.”
Arthur's heart stopped.
May you like
“Remember what?”
“Who put me in the wall.”
