"Get that trash out of the hallway before the investors arrive," Blake Mercer said, his voice dripping with condescension as he walked past without breaking stride.

The press conference erupted into total chaos. News crews pushed forward, hurling questions at Blake while photojournalists captured his stunned, pale expression. The two NYPD detectives paused, looking between the federal audit documents Marcus handed them and the trembling CEO at the podium.

"Mr. Mercer," the lead detective said, leaning in. "We're going to need you to step inside the precinct for questioning regarding these offshore transfer logs."

"This is absurd!" Blake yelled, pushing past the reporters toward his waiting sleek black limousine. "Talk to my legal team! Victoria, get in the car!"

Victoria Helms looked at Blake, then looked at Emily, her eyes filled with sudden realization and disgust. "Don't touch me, Blake," she said cold-heartedly, pulling her arm away. "My father's firm is freezing the fifty-million-dollar buyout of Summit immediately until a full forensic audit is completed."

"Victoria, wait!" Blake shouted, but she turned on her heels and walked away into a waiting town car.

Blake glared at Emily with pure hatred before ducking into his limousine as his driver sped away.

Emily stood on the courthouse steps, her hands steady. Marcus walked up beside her, offering a rare, subtle smile. "Phase one complete. You shattered his buyout deal and forced federal authorities to open a parallel investigation. But Blake isn't done, Emily. He's cornered now. And a cornered man with twenty-eight million dollars at stake is at his most dangerous."

"He still has control of the primary Summit accounts, and he still has full legal custody of Noah and Lily under the temporary emergency order he filed last month," Emily said, her voice trembling slightly for the first time. "I don't care about the money, Marcus. I want my children back."

"Then we strike where he least expects it," Marcus said, opening his laptop inside their vehicle. "Blake’s entire operation relies on Howard Bennett. Howard is the architect who built the offshore routing network in the Cayman Islands. If Howard breaks, Blake goes down instantly."

"Howard won't break easily," Emily noted. "Blake pays him millions to keep his mouth shut."

"Howard has a vice," Marcus replied, pulling up a series of private bank transfers on his screen. "He’s been skimming off Blake’s shell companies for the last eighteen months to cover high-stakes gambling debts in Macau. Blake doesn't know it yet. But if Blake finds out, Howard is dead in the water."

Emily’s phone rang. It was an unknown number. She answered it immediately.

"Emily?" a trembling voice whispered over the receiver. It was Megan.

"Megan, are you okay?"

"No," Megan sobbed softly. "Blake just came back to the building in a rage. He fired the entire executive floor staff and he's clearing out his private safe. He told Howard to prepare the private jet at Teterboro Airport for tonight. Emily... he's taking your children with him."