Everyone froze.

Daniel stared at the screen.

“That isn't possible.”

Arthur slowly smiled.

“You thought I kept you alive because I needed you?”

He leaned toward Daniel.

“I kept you alive because you were useful. But the account was transferred months ago.”

Olivia looked at the screen.

A new name appeared beneath Daniel's.

CURRENT BENEFICIARY: OLIVIA BENNETT.

Her heart began pounding.

Then another message appeared.

FINAL DECISION REQUIRED WITHIN 60 SECONDS.

Arthur looked directly at her.

“Now, Olivia, you must decide whether to become the richest woman in the country or destroy everything your family has spent twenty years protecting.”

The countdown began.

00:59

And for the first time since the investigation began, Olivia understood that exposing Project Nightfall was only the beginning.

The final battle was over who would control everything it had stolen.

The countdown continued.

00:52

Olivia stared at the two options on the screen.

ACCEPT CONTROL OF FUNDS.

REJECT CONTROL OF FUNDS.

Behind her, Arthur Bennett stood with an expression of satisfaction. He seemed convinced that no matter what she chose, he would win.

“You have fifty seconds,” he said. “Choose carefully.”

Olivia looked at the enormous figure displayed beneath her name. The account contained billions of dollars, accumulated through decades of corruption, illegal payments, blackmail, and stolen public funds.

She thought about the people whose lives had been destroyed to protect that money.

She thought about Sarah, who had lost years of her life hiding from the people who wanted her silenced. She thought about Daniel, imprisoned for twenty years. She thought about her father, who had missed her childhood because powerful men had threatened his family.

Then she looked at her mother.

“Mom, what happens if I reject it?”

Elizabeth stepped closer.

“The account will be frozen. Nobody will be able to move the money until an independent court determines who it belongs to.”

“And what happens to the people who lost everything?”

“They can finally seek restitution.”

Arthur laughed.

“Restitution? You think a courtroom can return twenty years of someone's life? You think money can repair a family?”

Olivia turned toward him.

“No. But it can help the people you hurt rebuild what you destroyed.”

Arthur's expression darkened.

“You have no idea how much power you're throwing away.”

Olivia looked at the screen again.

The countdown reached thirty seconds.

Daniel approached her.

“Olivia, there is something you should know before you make your decision.”

“What?”

“The account was never supposed to belong to your family. Your grandfather transferred it into your name because he believed you would eventually become a person he could control.”

Arthur stepped forward.

“Enough, Daniel!”

But Daniel continued.

“He believed that if you grew up surrounded by the consequences of his decisions, you would eventually accept the money as compensation. He thought you would consider it your inheritance.”

Olivia looked at Arthur.

“You planned this before I was old enough to understand what was happening.”

Arthur nodded.

“I wanted someone from my family to inherit what I built.”

“You didn't build an inheritance. You built a crime.”

The countdown reached ten seconds.

Walker stood beside her.

“Olivia, whatever you choose, we'll support you.”

She placed her hand on the keyboard.

Then she pressed REJECT.

The screen went dark.

For a moment, the entire room fell silent.

A mechanical sound echoed beneath the floor.

Then a new message appeared.

ACCOUNT PERMANENTLY FROZEN PENDING JUDICIAL REVIEW.

ALL ASSOCIATED TRANSACTIONS PRESERVED.

BENEFICIARY AUTHORITY REVOKED.

Rebecca checked her phone.

“It's done. The account is frozen.”

Arthur stared at the screen.

His face slowly changed.

“No.”

He stepped toward the terminal.

“No! You don't understand what you've done!”

Olivia moved away from the keyboard.

“I understand exactly what I've done.”

Arthur reached for her, but Thomas intercepted him.

The two men struggled. Arthur struck Thomas across the face, but Walker and Rebecca rushed forward and forced him to the floor.

“Arthur Bennett,” Rebecca announced, “you are under arrest for conspiracy, financial crimes, witness intimidation, obstruction of justice, and multiple counts of unlawful imprisonment.”

Arthur began laughing.

Even with his hands restrained, he seemed unwilling to accept that he had lost.

“You think this ends with me?” he shouted. “You think the people who paid for this system will simply surrender?”

Olivia looked down at him.

“No. I think they'll finally have to answer for what they did.”

The courthouse was surrounded by federal vehicles within twenty minutes.

Independent investigators arrived from several agencies. Medical personnel treated Porter and Daniel. Sarah was taken to a secure location, where she was finally reunited with her brother Jason.

When she saw him, she ran across the room and threw her arms around him.