Chapter 9 - The Final Visit
Before the start of his formal criminal trial, Blake Mercer requested a private visitor meeting at the Metropolitan Detention Center.
Emily agreed to go—not out of anger, but to close the door on that chapter of her life forever.
She sat behind the thick reinforced glass partition. A moment later, a prison guard led Blake inside. He was dressed in a bright orange jumpsuit, his hair unkempt, his face hollow and aged by years in a matter of weeks. The arrogant swagger that defined him for twelve years was completely gone.
He picked up the heavy black phone receiver. Emily picked up hers.
"You look good, Emily," Blake said, his voice raspy and thin through the speaker.
"I am good, Blake," she replied calmly.
"I heard you took over the company," he said, letting out a bitter, quiet chuckle. "They renamed the building."
"We did. Carter Capital officially opened its headquarters yesterday."
Blake looked down at his cuffed wrists, his shoulders slumping. "How are Noah and Lily?"
"They are doing wonderful," Emily said, her tone even and unyielding. "They are back in their school, they are safe, and they are surrounded by people who actually care about them. The family court judge signed the final decree yesterday. I have sole legal and physical custody. Your parental rights have been permanently suspended."
Blake’s eyes welled with sudden, genuine tears. "Emily... please. I made a mistake. I panicked. The debt was suffocating me, and I lost my mind. You know I love those kids. You can't keep them from me forever."
Emily looked at him with neither hatred nor pity. "You didn't make a mistake, Blake. A mistake is a bad investment. You calculatedly spent three years building a system to ruin my life, throw me in prison, and take my children away so you could live in luxury in Dubai. That isn't panic. That’s evil."
"Emily, please..." Blake pleaded, pressing his hand against the cold glass. "Help me get a plea deal. Talk to the prosecutor. I built that company with you! You owe me that much!"
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"I don't owe you anything, Blake," Emily said quietly. She stood up from her chair and adjusted her blazer. "You thought throwing me out onto the street would break me. But you forgot that before I was your wife, I was the one who built your foundation."
She placed the receiver back onto the wall hook, turned her back on him, and walked out of the visitor room without looking back once.
