The Countdown He Could Not Stop
Chapter 02 - The Countdown He Could Not Stop
Damien ordered the mansion staff to lock every door.
No one moved.
For months, he had behaved as though the estate already belonged to him, dismissing longtime employees and filling the house with guards loyal to his private security company. But Beatrice Ashford was still the legal owner, and one look from her reminded everyone whose family name was carved above the entrance.
“What happens when the timer ends?” Damien demanded.
Evelyn held the phone where he could see it. “Lily activated an emergency archive. Unless she enters a private code, the files go to the board, the police, and every major shareholder.”
Damien turned to Lily. “Cancel it.”
Lily pressed closer to her mother. Earlier that evening, Damien had forced her to record a statement claiming she had mismanaged company funds. He planned to release the video after obtaining her signature. What he did not know was that Lily had quietly activated the safety system her grandfather created before his death.
The timer continued.
Sixty-five seconds.
Damien changed tactics. He softened his voice and reminded Lily of the life they had planned: the wedding in Italy, the apartment overlooking Central Park, the future they would build together. He blamed his anger on pressure and claimed the documents were meant to protect her.
Beatrice watched him with disgust. “A loving man does not need locked doors and forged papers.”
Damien’s face hardened.
He accused Beatrice of manipulating Lily because she could not accept losing control of the company. Then he revealed his final weapon: three board members had already signed letters declaring Lily mentally incapable. At midnight, their votes would transfer emergency authority to him whether she signed or not.
Evelyn looked at Beatrice, shaken.
But the older woman did not blink.
“Those three directors?” Beatrice asked. “They resigned forty minutes ago.”
Damien went still.
Beatrice had spent the evening meeting them in person. She showed them bank records proving Damien had funneled company money through consulting firms connected to his brother. Faced with criminal exposure, all three agreed to cooperate.
The timer reached forty seconds.
Damien grabbed Lily’s wrist and pulled her toward the phone.
Before Evelyn could react, Beatrice stepped forward and pressed a button on the diamond pendant at her throat.
The ballroom lights flashed red.
Steel security shutters dropped across every exit.
May you like
Damien stared at the necklace.
Beatrice gave him a thin smile. “You were not the only one who planned for tonight.”
