The message came through a secure line—an old contact of Sloane’s. Anonymous. No signature. Just the words:

“He knows about Nathan’s inheritance.”

Aria read it twice before it registered.

Then a third time before the panic set in.

She was in the back seat of Dominic’s car when it hit her like a punch to the chest.

“Nathan’s trust,” she whispered. “He’s going after the money.”

Dominic turned from the front seat. “What money?”

Aria closed her eyes.

She hadn’t told him.

She hadn’t told anyone.

“Nathan left me everything,” she said quietly. “After the accident. His life insurance, the settlement. Over half a million.”

Dominic frowned. “That wasn’t on record.”

“Because I never touched it. I didn’t claim it under my name. I set up a private trust in his. I planned to use it someday—for something that mattered. A foundation. A scholarship. Anything that would make up for what happened.”

Sloane, seated beside her, looked up from her laptop. “And now Hale found it.”

Aria nodded. “He’s going to use it to say I profited from my brother’s death. That I built Vale on guilt money.”

Sloane swore under her breath. “How the hell did he find that file?”

“I don’t know,” Aria said. “But if he leaks it, it’ll taint everything. No matter how false it is.”

Dominic’s voice was low and serious. “Then we need to leak it first. With the truth.”

“No.” Aria’s jaw set. “This isn’t a business mistake. This is family. I’m not turning Nathan into a talking point.”

Sloane leaned forward. “Aria… he’s playing chess. This is check.”

Aria looked out the window. The city blurred past. Somewhere, in some glass tower, Marcus Hale was smiling.

She could feel it.

“No,” she said softly. “This isn’t check. Not yet.”

That evening, as she waited for the licensing board’s decision, Aria sat at her desk and opened the trust.

For the first time in years.

She read the letter Nathan left her. Just twelve words:

“I believe in what you’ll build. Don’t let them take it.”

She made a decision.

When the phone rang, she didn’t flinch.

The voice on the other end was formal. Steady. Unemotional.

“Ms. Vale, the board has reached a decision.”

She waited.

Held her breath.

“Your license remains in good standing. The suit has been deemed retaliatory and unfounded. No further action will be taken.”

Aria closed her eyes.

Let it sink in.

Then stood.

Because it was time to take the last thing Marcus Hale had left.

His silence.