I stopped reacting when they threatened me. I stopped trembling. The fear that had kept me paralyzed for two years suddenly evaporated, replaced by a cold, sharp clarity. Adrian raised his hand, his eyes burning with that familiar, sadistic thrill. He loved this part. He loved the absolute power he held over me.

Chapter 5: The Desperate Move

By Monday morning, Cross Holdings stock had plummeted by eighty percent. The board of directors had held an emergency meeting and ousted Adrian as CEO to desperately try and salvage the company's remaining scraps.

That afternoon, my phone rang. The caller ID was a blocked number, but I knew who it was. I answered, putting it on speaker for my father and his security team to hear.

"Elena. Please." Adrian’s voice was unrecognizable. It wasn't calm. It was shattered, begging, pathetic. "Please, Elena. Call him off. You have to call your father off. They took the company. They froze my personal accounts. We’re being evicted from the mansion."

"You told me I had nothing without you, Adrian," I replied, my voice steady and cold. "You told me I was nothing."

"I was angry! I didn't mean it!" He was crying now. The great mogul, sobbing like a child. "Think of our son, Elena! You can't let him grow up with a ruined father. Margaret is having heart palpitations. Please, let's just talk. Face to face. Just you and me. I'll sign whatever you want."

I looked at my father. He shook his head sharply, Mouthing the word 'No.'

But I knew Adrian. He was cornered. And cornered men were dangerous. He wouldn't stop until he felt he had some shred of control. I needed to end this on my terms. I needed a confession that would put him away for good, ensuring he could never come after my child.

"Okay, Adrian," I said, ignoring my father's frantic gestures. "One meeting. Tomorrow at noon. Public place. The botanical gardens downtown."