Volume 9: Showdown on Wall Street
Synopsis: Jack has gathered enough evidence to launch his final strike against Richard's true mastermind. He will use every resource at his disposal to drag the hidden sins into the light of day.
Chapter 5: Emily's Courage
The apartment in Brooklyn was cramped and oppressive, the air thick with a faint scent of mildew. Cheap landscape prints clung to the walls, trying in vain to cover peeling paint, only making the place look more pitiful. Emily Browning—once a glamorous fixture of Wall Street's elite—now lived alone in this dim, fifty-square-meter space, nursing wounds no one could see.
Jack stood in the middle of the living room, scanning every corner, searching for traces of despair and fear in Emily's eyes. He knew that convincing her would take patience, skill—and above all, the rekindling of a courage long buried.
Emily handed him a plastic cup filled with water, its sides still marked with old coffee stains. "Do you really think I can help you? Richard… he's terrifying."
Her voice trembled, her eyes haunted by lingering terror. Once, Richard had been her prince, sweeping her into high society, lavishing her with luxury. Now, he was her nightmare—a demon capable of dragging her into oblivion.
"Emily, Richard is already drowning," Jack said, his voice low but firm, carrying an almost hypnotic strength. "SEC investigators are tearing through Bell Group headquarters right now. He's stranded like a beached fish. And you—you hold the key to the truth."
He stepped closer, locking eyes with her. "You were always a victim. Used. Manipulated. Now it's time to stand up—for yourself, for everyone he's hurt."
Emily gripped the cup so tightly her knuckles turned white. She closed her eyes, as if battling the fear clawing at her heart. "I'm scared. Richard told me what would happen if I ever betrayed him. He'd make me suffer. I know he can."
Jack moved forward and gently took her hand. "Emily, I know you're afraid. But you're not alone. I have evidence. I have allies. I have the media behind us. We'll protect you. He won't touch you."
He paused, his gaze sharpening. "More than that—you need to defeat your own fear. If you stay silent, Richard walks free. He keeps hurting people. Is that what you want?"
Emily snapped her head up, her expression raw with inner conflict. His words struck like lightning, illuminating the darkness inside her. She thought of the life she once had, the sweet lies Richard had whispered, the cold cruelty hidden beneath his charm.
"I… I don't want to be silent anymore," she said, her voice gaining strength. "I know things about Richard—so many things. He used to boast in front of me, telling me about his plans, his schemes. I just… I was too afraid to speak."
Jack exhaled in relief. He could feel the first crack forming in her emotional wall. "It's okay, Emily. It's never too late to speak out. Tell me everything you know."
Taking a deep breath, Emily began to recount everything—the insider trading, the bribes, the offshore accounts. She spoke of everything she had seen, heard, and felt.
"Richard trusted no one more than his lawyer, Robert Claus," she said, her voice growing clearer. "Claus is a partner at Claus & Smith, the law firm handling all of Richard's legal affairs—including the Phoenix Fund."
"The Phoenix Fund?" Jack pressed. "What's special about it?"
"I only know that Richard treated it like his most valuable asset. He called it his 'safety net.' I once saw a document showing the fund's beneficiary listed under the name 'Alpha.'"
"Alpha?" Jack frowned. The name sent a chill through him.
"I don't know who that is. Richard never let me near his inner circle," Emily shook her head. "But I do know he met Claus in secret to discuss the fund. They met in the basement of Claus's law office—it's where they kept a secure room, completely off the grid, no cameras or monitoring devices."
"The basement of Claus & Smith… a secure room…" Jack stored the details away carefully. He knew that place likely held the secrets connecting Richard to his puppet master.
Emily continued, "Also, Richard often received emails from Switzerland. The header always read Walden Lakeside. I don't know what it means, but every time he got one, he became extremely nervous."
"Walden Lakeside?" Jack repeated the unfamiliar name, a strong instinct stirring within him.
"Emily, what you've given us is incredibly valuable. Thank you," Jack said, standing and gripping her hand firmly. "You made the right choice. You're brave."
"I… I hope I didn't make a mistake," Emily whispered, her eyes clouded with worry.
"You didn't," Jack replied with conviction. "We'll protect you. Together, we'll expose the truth. Those responsible will pay for their crimes."
As Jack left Emily's apartment, his mood was heavy yet hopeful. He was grateful for her courage—but deeply aware of the storm that was coming. He knew Richard's real mastermind wouldn't sit idly by.
He pulled out his phone and dialed Kevin.
"Kevin, immediately investigate Claus & Smith, especially Robert Claus and their basement. Also, dig into the name Walden Lakeside. There might be something there."
After hanging up, Jack looked up at the night sky over New York. The city lights glittered, dazzling and beautiful—but behind them lurked countless shadows, filled with corruption and crime.
He took a deep breath, clenched his fists, and steeled himself.
No matter how many obstacles lay ahead, he would push forward—for justice, for those who had suffered, and for himself. This battle was inevitable.
Back at the command center, Jack shared Emily's information with Chloe and Rat.
"Claus & Smith?" Chloe flipped through some files. "That firm is well-known on Wall Street. They represent some of the biggest corporations. Whoever's behind Richard must be someone very powerful."
"Walden Lakeside?" Rat frowned. "That name… feels familiar. Let me think…"
Suddenly, the door burst open, and Kevin rushed in, pale-faced.
"Jack! Something's happened! Emily… Emily's gone!"
Jack's heart dropped. A cold dread settled over him.
"What happened?" he demanded.
"I was monitoring her apartment remotely. A few minutes ago, I saw several men break in. They—they took her!"