My Husband Slapped Me At The Hospital… Then My Father Did Something Nobody Expected. Chapt
Chapter 9
The meeting was arranged inside an empty downtown office building.
Victor arrived at noon.
Ryan came with him.
Emily sat across the table.
Daniel and Frank watched from another room through a concealed camera system.
The property documents were placed in front of Victor.
He reviewed them carefully.
“You’ve become reasonable.”
Emily looked at him.
“I’ve become tired.”
Victor smiled.
“Your father fought for twenty years.”
“And lost.”
Victor leaned back.
“Eventually, everyone loses.”
Emily pushed the papers toward him.
“Sign.”
Victor didn’t touch them.
Instead, he looked at Ryan.
“She’s stronger than you said.”
Ryan looked uncomfortable.
“She changed.”
Victor laughed.
“No. She discovered who she was.”
Emily watched them.
“Was that the plan?”
Victor looked at her.
“What plan?”
“Ryan marrying me.”
Victor’s expression remained calm.
“Your husband made his own decisions.”
“But you paid him.”
“I invested in him.”
Emily’s stomach turned.
“You used him.”
Victor shrugged.
“Everyone uses everyone.”
“No.”
Emily shook her head.
“That’s what people like you tell yourselves.”
Victor leaned forward.
“You’re not your mother.”
Emily felt something change inside her.
“What did you say?”
“You don’t have her instincts.”
“What happened to her?”
Victor smiled.
“You already know.”
Emily’s hands tightened beneath the table.
“You killed her.”
“I didn’t touch her.”
“But you paid the mechanic.”
Victor’s eyes narrowed.
For the first time, he had reacted.
Emily noticed.
“So you know what I’m talking about.”
Victor stood.
“Where did you get that information?”
Emily smiled.
“That’s the problem.”
Victor stared at her.
“You’ve been recording me.”
“No.”
She paused.
“You’ve been recording yourself.”
Daniel’s voice came through the speaker.
“Mr. Hale, you’re surrounded.”
Victor immediately looked toward the door.
Police officers entered.
Ryan panicked.
“Victor!”
Victor grabbed the papers.
Frank stepped forward.
“Don’t move.”
Victor froze.
The trap seemed perfect.
But then the lights went out.
Everything went dark.
A loud alarm sounded.
Emily heard someone running.
She reached for her phone.
A hand grabbed her arm.
She screamed.
Then a flashlight beam appeared.
Ryan.
He was pulling her toward the hallway.
“Come with me.”
“Let go!”
“They’ll kill you!”
“Who?”
“Victor!”
Emily stopped.
“You’re helping him.”
Ryan shook his head.
“No.”
“Then why are you dragging me?”
“Because he has someone inside the police.”
Emily stared.
“What?”
Ryan whispered.
“There are people working for him everywhere.”
Before Emily could respond, a gunshot echoed from downstairs.
Ryan flinched.
Emily pulled free.
Then she saw Victor running toward the emergency exit.
She followed.
“Ryan!”
He turned.
For one second, their eyes met.
Ryan looked terrified.
Then he did something unexpected.
He stepped between Emily and Victor.
Victor raised his weapon.
“Move.”
Ryan shook his head.
“No.”
Victor’s face hardened.
“You were paid to protect yourself.”
Ryan looked at Emily.
“I know.”
Then he stepped forward.
“But I can’t let you hurt her.”
Victor fired.
Ryan collapsed.
Emily screamed.
Police stormed the hallway.
Victor was tackled seconds later.
The building erupted into chaos.
Emily dropped beside Ryan.
Blood stained his shirt.
He looked at her.
“I know I don’t deserve forgiveness.”
Emily’s eyes filled with tears.
“No.”
Ryan coughed.
“But…”
He struggled to breathe.
“I had to do one thing right.”
Then his eyes closed.
