Chapter 4 - The Hostile Takeover
The cruel, mocking laugh of Arthur Pendelton echoed violently off the damp concrete walls.
He casually informed Robert that he had been monitoring the CEO's private network for months, anticipating a moment of weakness.
Arthur pointed a heavy, suppressed pistol directly at the little girl's head, threatening to end the miracle right then and there.
He demanded that Robert use his phone to officially retract the leaked files, claiming they were a deep-fake smear campaign.
Furthermore, Arthur demanded the immediate, irrevocable transfer of all Sterling Financial Group assets into his own offshore accounts.
If Robert refused to comply within sixty seconds, the sniper perched outside the penthouse would put a bullet through Ethan's heart.
Robert looked desperately at the little girl, begging her to use whatever terrifying powers she possessed to stop them.
But the child simply closed her amber eyes, perfectly calm, and whispered that true sacrifice cannot be forced by magic.
Robert realized with absolute, crushing clarity that his money had always been a poisonous illusion.
He threw his phone aggressively against the brick wall, shattering the screen into a hundred useless pieces.
He boldly stepped directly in front of the little girl, shielding her small body completely with his own.
"You can take the company, Arthur, but you will never touch my family again," Robert snarled with absolute deadly conviction.
Arthur's smug smile vanished instantly, replaced by a mask of pure, unadulterated corporate malice.
He coldly ordered his elite mercenaries to gun them both down and make it look like a tragic underground mugging.
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The heavily armed men raised their automatic rifles simultaneously in the dimly lit subway chamber.
But before a single trigger could be pulled, the concrete floor violently cracked open beneath their combat boots.
