CHAPTER 16
The iron gates of the prison opened slowly,
groaning under their immense weight.
The gray stone walls loomed above us,
a bleak monument to human misery.
I walked through security,
the metal detector buzzing loudly.
Liam waited in the reception area,
his eyes filled with unspoken prayers.
A guard led me down a sterile hallway,
our footsteps echoing against the concrete floors.
We stopped at a heavy steel door,
marked with the words:
"Interview Room 4."
The guard unlocked it,
motioning for me to enter.
Inside,
a table separated two chairs,
and a thick pane of glass divided the room.
On the other side sat Ethan Carter,
wearing a bright orange jumpsuit.
The transformation was shocking,
as his once-tall frame seemed smaller.
His skin was pale,
and his eyes lacked their former arrogant spark.
Yet,
as I sat down,
a cold smile formed on his lips.
"Emily,"
he rasped,
his voice rough from months of silence.
"I knew you would come back to me eventually."
"I didn't come back to you,
Ethan,"
I replied coldly,
picking up the phone receiver.
"I came for information."
He picked up his receiver,
leaning closer to the glass partition.
"Information about what,"
he sneered,
his eyes narrowing.
"Your pathetic little company?"
"Information about Julian Vance,"
I said clearly,
watching his reaction.
The name hit him like a physical blow,
causing his smile to vanish instantly.
His eyes darted around nervously,
a sudden flash of terror crossing his face.
"Where did you hear that name,"
he whispered fiercely,
gripping the phone tightly.
"He is buying Apex,
using your old laundering accounts,"
I explained,
keeping my voice steady.
"If you want revenge on the world,
tell me how to stop him."
Ethan let out a sharp,
bitter laugh that turned into a cough.
"Stop Julian Vance,"
he mocked,
shaking his head in disbelief.
"You are a fool,
Emily,
a complete and utter fool."
"I didn't build Apex's shadow empire,"
he confessed,
his voice dropping to a whisper.
"Julian did."
"I was just his soldier,
and the moment I failed,
he abandoned me to rot."
"You think I can help you,"
he asked,
staring at me with hollow eyes.
May you like
"No one can help you now,
because Julian Vance owns the world."
