“The police are in the lobby,” Hayes said, looking up from his phone.

“They are coming up now.”

I ran to Jane, helping her rise from the carpet.

She was shaking violently, but she handed me the binder.

“Take it, Emily,” she whispered. “Get it away from him.”

I clasped the cool leather against my chest.

I could feel the thick, uneven edges of the parchment inside.

This was Lily’s future.

This was the proof that would protect her forever.

Richard stopped struggling for a second, his chest heaving as Nathan held him tight.

He looked at me, his eyes full of pure hatred.

“You think you’ve won, Emily,” Richard hissed at me.

“You think you can just walk into my family and take everything.”

“I’m not taking anything, Richard,” I said, my voice steadying.

“I’m just giving Lily what her father wants her to have.”

Nathan looked down at his father.

“We are waiting for the officers, Dad,” Nathan said softly.

“Please don’t make this any worse.”

Richard let out a dry, hacking laugh.

He looked past us, toward the glass doors of the boardroom.