After four years behind bars, I came home hoping for nothing more than to hug my father, but my stepmother opened the front door and said, “He passed away eight months ago. This property belongs to me now.” I silently walked to the graveyard with an old key in my pocket, completely unaware that the caretaker was about to whisper something that would shatter my reality.

At 9:00 AM the next morning, the top floor of the Sterling Enterprises high-rise was buzzing with corporate electricity.

Evelyn and Preston sat at the head of a massive glass conference table. Across from them sat three executives from the shell corporation, pens hovering over stacks of legal documents.

"Sign here, Evelyn, and the transfer is complete," one of the executives smiled greedily.

Evelyn picked up a gold fountain pen, a triumphant smirk resting on her flawless face. "To new beginnings," she purred.

The tip of her pen touched the paper.

CRASH.

The heavy glass doors of the boardroom were kicked open so hard they shattered against the wall.

Evelyn jumped, dropping the pen.

I walked into the room, flanked by four uniformed police officers, two FBI agents, and Sloane. I was wearing my father’s vintage leather jacket, and I held the black ledger high in the air.

"The deal is dead, Evelyn," I announced, my voice echoing off the glass walls.

Preston jumped up, his face turning purple with rage. "Security! Get this convicted felon out of my building!"

"It's not your building, Preston," I sneered. I threw the black ledger onto the center of the glass table. It landed with a heavy, satisfying thud. "And my conviction was just overturned by a federal judge an hour ago. Thanks to the evidence in that book."

Evelyn’s eyes locked onto the ledger. The color drained from her face, leaving her looking old and terrified.

"That... that's a forgery!" she stammered, backing away from the table. "He’s lying! He’s a thief!"

"The FBI has already cross-referenced the accounts, Mrs. Sterling," the lead agent said, stepping forward with a pair of handcuffs. "You transferred thirty million dollars to offshore accounts, poisoned your husband, and framed your stepson."

"My husband is dead!" Evelyn shrieked, losing her mind. "You can't prove I did anything to him! He's dead!"

The room fell dead silent.