Chapter 98 - THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT
The agreement was older than anyone in the room.
The paper was yellow.
The signatures were faded.
But the names were clear.
Four founders.
One of them was Richard.
One was Eleanor.
One was my grandfather.
And the fourth name stopped me.
Margaret Reed.
My mother.
I looked at Richard.
“She was a founder.”
“Yes.”
“You lied.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because if anyone knew she had equal authority, The Circle would have followed her.”
I looked at the agreement.
There was a final clause.
THE SYSTEM EXISTS ONLY UNTIL THE HEIR CHOOSES FREEDOM.
I read it again.
Then again.
I looked at Richard.
“You knew.”
“Yes.”
“And that's why you wanted Noah.”
“No.”
I frowned.
Richard looked at me.
“I wanted you to believe Noah was the heir.”
“What?”
“Your mother never named Noah.”
He pointed to the document.
“She named you.”
I looked at Julian.
He looked stunned.
Richard continued.
“Noah was the test.”
“What test?”
“Whether you would choose power over your son.”
I understood.
Every event.
Every threat.
Every secret.
The entire chain had been designed to force one decision.
Would I become the next Richard?
Or would I walk away?
I looked at the document.
Then I tore it in half.
Richard stared.
“What have you done?”
I tore it again.
“And again.”
The room became silent.
Then I dropped the pieces into the trash.
“I don't accept your inheritance.”
Richard shook his head.
“You don't understand.”
“I understand perfectly.”
I took Noah's hand.
“I choose him.”
Julian stepped beside us.
“And I choose them.”
Victoria looked at us.
Then Eleanor smiled.
Mara lowered her head.
Richard stood alone.
For the first time, he had nothing.
No system.
No leverage.
No control.
Then sirens sounded outside.
Police officers entered the building.
Richard looked at me.
“You think this ends with me?”
I shook my head.
May you like
“No.”
“It ends with the truth.”
