CHAPTER 13 — THE EDGE
Emily did not move.
Every instinct told her to run toward her daughter.
But Lydia’s grip tightened whenever Emily took a step.
“You don’t want to hurt Hope,” Emily said.
“You don’t know what I want.”
“I know you wanted control. Hurting her gives you nothing.”
Lydia’s eyes flickered.
Behind her, the helicopter moved closer.
Caleb kept both hands visible.
Police snipers waited on nearby rooftops, but no one had a clear shot.
Emily took one slow step.
“Preston told me you abandoned him in the river.”
“He failed me.”
“He became exactly what you trained him to become.”
Lydia’s face tightened.
“You think Arthur was a good man? He hid one child, favored another, and used everyone around him.”
“My father made mistakes. But he tried to stop the damage.”
“He tried to destroy my son.”
“Preston destroyed himself.”
Lydia looked down at the baby carrier.
Hope had stopped crying.
For one terrifying moment, she was completely still.
Emily’s voice broke.
“She needs medical care.”
Lydia hesitated.
That hesitation was enough.
Vanessa emerged from the stairwell behind Emily.
Her injured wrist was wrapped in a brace.
“Lydia,” she called.
Lydia turned.
Vanessa held up the missing evidence phone.
“You want the records that can still protect Preston? They’re here.”
Lydia shifted her attention toward the device.
Emily rushed forward.
Lydia released one hand from the carrier to reach for a weapon inside her coat.
Vanessa threw the phone over the opposite side of the roof.
Lydia spun toward it instinctively.
Emily grabbed Hope’s carrier.
The force pulled Emily to her knees.
Lydia lost her balance near the ledge.
For a second, Emily could have let her fall.
Instead, she caught Lydia’s wrist.
Police officers reached the roof and pulled them both to safety.
Hope was rushed to paramedics.
She was cold and dehydrated, but alive.
Lydia was arrested.
As officers placed her in handcuffs, she stared at Emily.
“Why did you save me?”
Emily held Hope against her chest.
“Because my daughter will never learn that cruelty is strength.”
Lydia was taken away.
Vanessa stood alone near the stairwell.
Emily approached her.
“You risked your life.”
Vanessa looked at Hope.
“I owed you more than an apology.”
For the first time, Emily saw no arrogance in her.
Only shame.
Later that night, doctors confirmed that Hope would recover fully.
Preston was formally charged with conspiracy, kidnapping, attempted murder, corporate fraud, and obstruction.
Lydia faced additional charges related to Arthur’s death and the kidnapping.
Nora agreed to testify.
The evidence seemed overwhelming.
Then Preston’s attorney requested an emergency hearing.
He claimed Emily had manipulated witnesses, fabricated the ledger, and used her father’s death to seize the company.
More troubling, he produced a psychiatric report stating that Emily had suffered delusions for months.
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The report carried the signature of Emily’s own obstetrician.
And according to the date, it had been written before Arthur died.
