Mrs. Cross tried to push past the guard. “She owes us! We gave her everything, our son, our name, our place at the table!“” Security stepped between us again.”
“Step back, ma’am,” the guard warned.”
“Step back, ma’am,” the guard warned.
“You owe us!” Mr. Cross shouted as he was forced back toward the hallway. “You owe this family for everything we gave you!“}
“You gave me a cage!” I shouted back.
Jane kept thrashing, fighting against the guard’s grip like she could will this moment away. “You have no idea what you’re doing, Megan! You’re going to regret this!”
“No,” I said softly, evenly. “You are.”
The hallway echoed with their shouting. Doors opened. Staff peeked out. And still they were dragged, shouting, out of the room.”
Until the doors finally closed.
And silence took over.
Real silence.
Not fearful, not fake.
Peaceful. Still.
I turned back to the table.
The trust documents sat in front of me. My name, bold and clean.
Beneficiary: Megan Sage.
No more Cross.
Just Sage.
My lawyer slid the pen forward.[
This time, no one could stop me.[
I picked it up./
And signed.
Each stroke of the pen felt like cutting chains they wrapped around my name.
This wasn’t revenge.[
This was a reclamation.[
Hours later, my phone buzzed.[
A new email.[/
Subject: Public Inquiry Misappropriated Trust Funds.[
It was from an investigative journalist.
.
“We’re hearing rumors about fraud inside Cross Holdings. Can you confirm you’ve filed a claim against the board?”
I stared at the screen.
Then typed a word back:
“Yes.”
And hit send.[
Chapter 17
Megan’s POV
The clinic sat on
hill two hours outside the city.
Private. Discreet. Expensive.
