My husband drove the car into the river with my brother and me trapped inside, but when the water had already reached my neck, the man who had been “paralyzed” for 15 years stood up from his wheelchair, k:ick:ed the door open, and whispered, “Play d:ea:d. He’s watching.” I didn’t ask any questions… until I saw who was waiting for my husband on the shore.

How afraid he was that I would tell Garrett after we married.

That one hurt.

“You trusted him less than me.”

“No.”

“You trusted my love for him more than my judgment.”

Tobias thought about that.

“Yes.”

I appreciated the honesty.

“Don’t do that again.”

“I won’t.”

Mercer Marine survived.

Barely.

The scandal frightened customers.

Board members resigned.

Some contracts froze.

Employees worried.

For months, I wanted to sell everything.

Then I remembered my father.

He had refused to surrender the company to Victor.

Tobias and I decided not to either.

But we changed how it operated.

No family member received automatic executive power.

Independent directors gained more authority.

Major ownership transfers required external review.

Security protocols changed.

Whistleblower protections expanded.

Samuel became an official adviser.

For the first time, his name appeared on paper.

He hated that.

I enjoyed it.

Penelope gave birth to a daughter.

I learned through attorneys.