Chapter 5 - Unearthing the PastArthur Vance didn't flinch; his expression remained cold and calculated.
"I did what was necessary to protect this company from a gold-digger," Arthur spat viciously.
"She was dragging down our stock prices, and your marriage was a disaster!"
"So you tried to kill her?!" Ryan roared, slamming his hands onto the table as he stood up.
"She was pregnant with my children!"
The room dissolved into absolute chaos as board members began shouting over one another.
Emily sat silently amidst the uproar, her expression unreadable.
She knew that breaking Ryan emotionally was only the first step in her plan.
"You didn't just try to eliminate me, Arthur," Emily said, her voice cutting through the noise like a razor.
"You lied to your son, told him I ran away with another man, and forced him into Amber Sterling's arms."
Ryan looked at Emily, tears of deep regret welling in his eyes.
Five years ago, after Emily disappeared, his father had shown him fake photos of Emily in Europe with another man.
Grief-stricken and betrayed, Ryan had thrown himself into alcohol and work, eventually agreeing to marry Amber.
"Emily... I didn't know," Ryan choked out, his voice filled with raw pain. "I swear to God, I didn't know."
"Ignorance is not an excuse, Ryan," Emily replied sternly.
"You were too weak to fight for me, too blind to see your father's evil."
She stood up and buttoned her blazer.
"You have twenty-four hours to resign as CEO, Ryan, or I release these documents to the FBI."
"Emily, please! Think about our boys!" Ryan begged, walking around the table toward her.
"My boys are safe with me," Emily said firmly. "They don't need a coward for a father."
As Emily turned toward the exit, the boardroom doors flew open once again.
Two agents in dark suits holding federal badges walked straight toward Arthur Vance.
"Arthur Vance, you are under arrest for federal financial fraud and conspiracy to commit murder," the lead agent announced.
The board members gasped as steel handcuffs clicked tightly around Arthur’s wrists.
Arthur glared at Emily with venomous rage as he was led away in front of his entire executive team.
Ryan stood frozen in the center of the room, his world crumbling to ashes around him.
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Emily paused at the door, glancing back at Ryan one last time.
"This is just the beginning, Ryan," she warned softly before stepping into the elevator.
