Megan’s POV
Chapter 160
I was halfway through a list of action items with my lawyer when there was a knock on my door.”
Not a light tap.N
Not a delivery knock.N
The kind of knock you know is personal.
I opened it, and there he was.N
Jaxon.N
He looked like he hadn’t slept in days.N
“I got the papers,” he said quietly.
I said nothing. Just stepped aside. Let him in.
He walked past me, stopped near the kitchen island. The same place he used to lean when we still shared a life./
“I read every line,” he added. “Every word. Your statement too.”
Still, I didn’t say anything.N
Finally, he turned to face me.N
haven’t signed them.”
I looked at him. “Why?”
He took a breath, like it physically hurt to say it. “Because I wasn’t ready to lose you. And I thought if I held off, maybe…” “Maybe what?” I asked.
“Maybe you’d change your mind.”
I walked around to the other side of the counter, leaning on it just enough to stay grounded.
“You’re not losing me,” I said. “You already lost me. A long time ago.”
He nodded, eyes down. “I know.”
“You just didn’t realize it until I got back up without you.”
He flinched, but didn’t deny it.”
**
“I stayed with you,” I continued, voice steady, “through silence, through loyalty, through betrayal I didn’t even know how to name at the time.“[
“Megan–“[
“And you let them treat me like I was disposable,” I said. “You let them erase me. And when I finally left, you waited. Not because you loved me, but because you wanted to be the one to decide when it ended.“\
He swallowed hard. “That’s not true.”
“It is. Maybe not on purpose. But that’s what you did.”
He stepped forward. “I didn’t protect you. I didn’t choose you. I get that now. I do.”
“You chose Mellan,” I said. “And now you’ve seen what that cost.”
Silence.
Then he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out the
Signed.
papers.
“I lied. I signed them,” he said. “I didn’t want to. But I know I need to.”
I took them. Looked at the bottom corner where his name was written, ink dried.” “Goodbye, Jaxon.”
He blinked, lips parted like he wanted to say something else.
But he didn’t.
He just nodded and walked out.
And I didn’t watch him go.
Later on, I sat across from my legal team in a glass–walled office on the twenty–second floor.”
The city looked different from here. Smaller. Easier to burn down if needed.N
T
“So,” my lead attorney said. “They didn’t just forge your name. They’ve been actively using funds from the trust account over a year’s worth of activity.“”
Is the board involved?” I asked.}
“We’re investigating. But we know Jane authorized several large transfers. Including campaign funding and offshore investments.”
Of course she did.
“I want it public,” I said.”
My lawyer raised an eyebrow. “Going public makes this personal. Very fast.“@
“It already is personal,” I said. “They used what was mine. While telling me I had nothing.“}
She nodded. “Okay. We’ll file the fraud suit. Asset recovery. And public notification.“”
“Include the letter from my grandfather,” I added. “And the video.“”
“You want to use the video?“\
“Yes.”
I leaned back.
Eyes burning. I let out a relieved smile.
Morning came fast when there was a knock at the door.”
A sharp, impatient one.”
Before my lawyer could even stand, the door opened.
Jane walked in fast, uninvited. Her heels hit the floor like a warning shot. Her hair was perfect, her voice wasn’t.
“Megan, please don’t sign that.“}
Behind her came the Crosses. Mr. and Mrs. Cross. Polished as always, but tight around the eyes. You could smell the panic under their perfume.
My lawyer stood. “This isn’t a good time.”
Jane pushed past her. “I don’t care. I need to speak to Megan. Alone, if possible.”
“No,” I said, voice cold. “You don’t get private rooms anymore.”
Jane turned to me, her face pinched. “You don’t understand what you’re doing. If you sign that claim, it starts a legal war. The family will be torn apart. You’ll be responsible for all of it.”
“I’m not tearing anything apart,” I said. “I’m just taking back what’s mine.”
“This family gave you a life,” Mrs. Cross said suddenly, stepping forward. “A name. Access. Status.”
I stared at her. “Are you serious?“}
“You married our son,” she said, like I’d won the lottery. “You should be thankful. We let you into this family when you were just supposed to be-”
She stopped herself. Too late.
Jane whipped her head around. “Mother, don’t.”
“No. Let’s be honest,” Mr. Cross said, stepping in now. “You were never meant to be part of this family. You were the backup plan. The safe option.”
“The one who wouldn’t make noise,” I said.
He didn’t deny it.
My chest tightened, but I kept my
you want me to be quiet again?”
oice even. “You buried my name. You buried my trust. And now that I’ve dug it back up,
“I’m begging you,” Jane said, her voice cracking. “Don’t sign it, Megan.”
