Chapter 10 - The Burning Empire

Nathan returned to Cole headquarters.
Hundreds of employees waited.
The board demanded answers.
Nathan walked onto the stage.
“My father built this company.”
Applause began.
Nathan raised his hand.
It stopped.
“He also built parts of it through corruption.”
The room froze.
“We have evidence.”
Board members shouted.
Nathan continued.
“I will cooperate with every investigation.”
His attorney whispered, “Nathan, this could destroy the company.”
“I know.”
“You could lose everything.”
Nathan looked at him.
“I already lost five years with my daughter.”
He faced the cameras.
“If protecting this empire means protecting the people who harmed my family, then the empire deserves to fall.”
Within hours, stock prices collapsed.
Partners withdrew.
Investigators arrived.
Nathan's inheritance was frozen.
His mansion was searched.
The newspapers called him reckless.
His relatives called him insane.
But Nathan didn't care.
That night, he returned to a small apartment.
Grace was there with Lily.
Lily ran toward him.
“Daddy!”
Nathan caught her.
Grace watched quietly.
Nathan looked at her.
“I don't know what happens next.”
Grace smiled faintly.
“Neither do I.”
“But I want to find out.”
She nodded.
May you like
For the first time in five years, Grace wasn't afraid of tomorrow.
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