Chapter 10: The Trap Closes

By sunrise, Elliot had already made his decision.

Richard Hale had spent years manipulating people from the shadows.

Now Elliot intended to drag him into the light.

But before they could expose him, they needed stronger evidence.

Marcus arrived at the Foster estate carrying several files and a laptop.

"Sir, we've finished tracing the deleted records."

"Good. What did you find?"

"The files were accessed through three internal accounts."

"One belongs to a former finance director."

"Another belongs to an inactive legal department account."

"And the third..."

Marcus paused.

"Belongs to Richard Hale's private assistant."

Elliot's expression hardened.

"So he's already trying to erase his tracks."

"Yes."

Avery looked at the documents spread across the table.

"Can we prove he ordered the sabotage?"

"Not yet," Marcus replied.

"But we found something else."

He opened a digital file.

"A payment was made to the mechanic who handled your vehicle before the accident."

"The payment came from one of Richard's shell companies."

Avery's eyes widened.

"That's enough to connect him to the accident, isn't it?"

"It's strong evidence," Elliot answered.

"But we need the full chain."

Marcus nodded.

"There's more."

"The same shell company also transferred money to an account linked to Tate Holdings."

Avery stared at the screen.

"So Richard financed the collapse of my father's company too."

"Exactly."

Elliot looked at her.

"We're close."

Avery nodded.

"Then let's finish it."

That afternoon, Elliot called a private board meeting.

Only a handful of trusted executives were invited.

Richard Hale arrived twenty minutes later, wearing the same confident smile he had worn for years.

"Elliot," he said warmly.

"It's good to see you healthy again."

Elliot remained expressionless.

"Sit down."

Richard took his seat.

"I heard there were concerns about old financial records."

"I'm happy to cooperate."

"I'm sure you are."

Elliot signaled Marcus.

A large screen behind them lit up.

The first image showed the payment made to the mechanic.

Richard's smile faded slightly.

The second showed the shell company connected to Tate Holdings.

The third showed a private message between Richard's assistant and the mechanic.

"Get it done before the end of the month."

Richard slowly leaned back.

"These documents are fabricated."

"Are they?" Elliot asked calmly.

"We verified every transaction through three independent banks."

"And the messages came directly from your assistant's device."

Richard's jaw tightened.

"You don't understand the circumstances."

"Then explain them."

Richard remained silent.

Elliot leaned forward.

"You tried to destroy Tate Holdings."

"You arranged my accident."

"You manipulated the board while I was unconscious."

"And you used people inside my company to erase the evidence."

"Why?"

Richard finally smiled.

"Because you were in my way."

Avery's heart sank.

Richard continued.

"Your father discovered the financial transfers."

"He was going to expose me."

"So I destroyed his company first."

"Then I arranged your accident."

The room became completely silent.

"You were supposed to die," Richard said coldly.

"But somehow... you survived."

Elliot's eyes became icy.

"And Cole?"

"He was useful."

"Weak people always are."

Avery felt disgust rising inside her.

"You ruined my family for money."

"For power," Richard corrected.

"Money is only one part of power."

Elliot stood.

"You made one mistake."

"What mistake?"

"You assumed I would wake up alone."

Richard glanced toward Avery.

"The girl?"

"She's the reason you survived?"

"She's irrelevant."

Elliot's expression darkened.

"You don't get to decide that."

Before Richard could respond, the conference room doors opened.

Police officers entered.

Richard's face changed instantly.

"What's this?"

The lead officer stepped forward.

"Richard Hale, you are under arrest for conspiracy, attempted murder, fraud, and financial crimes."

"You have the right to remain silent."

Richard looked at Elliot in disbelief.

"You planned this."

"Yes."

"You used the board meeting as a trap."

"I used the truth as a trap."

Officers placed handcuffs around Richard's wrists.

He struggled briefly before being escorted away.

When the doors closed behind him, Avery finally released the breath she had been holding.

"It's over," she whispered.

"Not completely," Elliot replied.

"There will be investigations and court proceedings."

"But the biggest danger is gone."

Avery looked at him.

"You did it."

"We did it."

She smiled.

"You're getting better at that."

"At what?"

"Including me."

Elliot smiled faintly.

"I'm trying to get used to having a wife."

That evening, they returned home earlier than expected.

The mansion was quiet.

For the first time in weeks, there was no immediate threat hanging over them.

Avery stepped onto the balcony.

Elliot followed.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked.

"Everything."

"A few months ago, I thought my life was falling apart."

"My father was sick."

"My family betrayed me."

"I married a stranger who hated the idea of having a wife."

"And now?"

Avery looked at him.

"Now I'm standing here with the man I married..."

"And somehow, he doesn't feel like a stranger anymore."

Elliot was silent.

He stepped closer.

"Avery..."

"Yes?"

"I'm starting to think I don't want a divorce."

Her heart skipped.

"You don't?"

"No."

"I don't know exactly when it happened."

"Maybe somewhere between your terrible cooking jokes and your stubborn refusal to accept my money."

Avery laughed softly.

"My cooking is not terrible."

"It's improving."

"That's an insult."

Elliot smiled.

"Maybe."

The warm silence between them felt different tonight.

Closer.

More dangerous in a completely different way.

Then Elliot reached for her hand.

Avery let him take it.

"We don't have to decide everything tonight," she whispered.

"No," Elliot agreed.

"But I know one thing."

"What?"

"I don't want to wake up one morning and discover you're gone."

Avery looked into his eyes.

"Then don't let me go."

Neither of them knew...

That before long, their marriage would become much more than an agreement made in a hospital and a courtroom.

It was becoming a choice.

A choice they were both beginning to make freely.