Chapter 10 - The Departure
I stared down the barrel of the gun without blinking.
"You are a coward, Brandon," I said in a perfectly steady voice.
"You always expect someone else to clean up your mess," I pushed further.
Brandon's hands shook violently as the heavy weapon wavered in his grip.
"Just pull the trigger and prove you are a monster," I challenged him.
He let out a pathetic, broken wail and dropped the gun to the floor.
Dozens of armed federal agents instantly breached the warehouse from every possible entrance.
They tackled Brandon to the ground and slapped heavy cuffs on his wrists.
The FBI arrested Dean Harrington before he could even reach his luxury car outside.
My father survived his injuries but was immediately sentenced to federal prison for accessory to fraud.
My mother was left entirely alone in a massive, empty house with nothing but her broken denial.
The authorities legally restored my grandmother's trust fund to my name.
Two months later, I confidently rolled my suitcase onto the beautiful campus of Ellison University.
I unpacked my belongings in my new dorm room, feeling completely free for the very first time.
I sat on my bed and took a deep, peaceful breath of fresh air.
A sudden rustling noise caught my attention near the entrance.
I walked over and found a sealed white envelope slipped quietly under my door.
May you like
Inside was a faded photograph of a man who shared my exact eyes.
A handwritten note on the back simply read: "Those people were not your real parents, you need to run."
