They Forced Me to Take the Fall…Then a Billionaire Heir Chose Me!
Chapter 7
Richard placed a contract on the table.
“Sign.”
Julian looked at it.
“What is it?”
“Transfer of voting control.”
“If I sign, you control the company.”
“Correct.”
“And if I don’t?”
Richard looked at Ava.
“She goes to prison.”
Julian’s jaw tightened.
“You can’t guarantee that.”
“I don’t have to.”
Richard placed a second folder on the table.
Inside were photographs of Ava’s mother.
Her home.
Her daily routine.
Ava felt sick.
Richard had been watching her family.
“This isn’t about the company anymore,” Julian said.
Richard smiled.
“It never was.”
Ava stepped forward.
“Let me sign.”
Julian turned.
“No.”
“They’ll destroy my life anyway.”
“That’s what he wants.”
Ava looked at Richard.
“What happens if Julian signs?”
“He walks away.”
“And me?”
“You disappear.”
Julian shook his head.
“No.”
Richard looked at him.
“You have always been weak.”
Julian’s expression hardened.
“Maybe.”
“But I’m not weak enough to let you win.”
Richard laughed.
Then the ballroom screens turned on.
News footage appeared.
Ava’s face.
The fraud accusations.
The stolen money.
A headline:
POLICE PREPARE ARREST WARRANT FOR HAWTHORNE EMPLOYEE.
Richard said:
“You have thirty minutes.”
Julian whispered:
“We need another way.”
Ava looked at the screen.
Then she noticed something.
The news broadcast was live.
Millions of people were watching.
Ava realized they could turn the trap against Richard.
She whispered to Julian.
“Keep him talking.”
“Why?”
“Because the ballroom cameras are connected to the hotel’s broadcast system.”
Julian understood.
He stepped forward.
“Fine.”
Richard smiled.
“I knew you’d choose your company.”
Julian looked directly at him.
“Tell me everything.”
Richard began explaining.
He bragged about manipulating the board.
The shell companies.
The stolen assets.
The forged credentials.
The fabricated evidence.
Ava secretly activated the camera feed.
Every word was transmitted.
The live broadcast reached news networks.
People began hearing Richard confess.
His own security team watched in horror.
Richard didn’t realize.
Until his phone started ringing.
Then another.
Then another.
His expression changed.
Ava smiled.
“Check the news.”
Richard grabbed his phone.
His face went pale.
The headline had changed.
BLACKWOOD HEIR EXPOSES BILLION-DOLLAR CORPORATE CONSPIRACY LIVE.
Richard turned toward Ava.
“You.”
She stepped back.
He reached for his weapon.
But Julian moved first.
Security rushed into the ballroom.
Police followed.
Richard was arrested.
Victor was arrested hours later.
The conspiracy collapsed.
And Ava’s name was cleared.
But the story wasn’t over.
Because Julian had just publicly chosen her.
Not as a witness.
Not as a pawn.
Not as someone to save.
As the woman he trusted when everyone else had abandoned her.
