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The room seemed to contract under the weight of Richard Holloway's presence. His sharp, predatory eyes locked onto James and Clara with a venomous mix of disdain and amusement, as if he were a hunter toying with his prey.
"You think you've come so far," Richard said, stepping into the study. His voice was calm, measured, and unnervingly confident. "But all you've managed to do is walk straight into my web."
Clara's breath hitched as James instinctively stepped in front of her, shielding her with his body. She could feel the tension in his muscles, a storm of fury barely contained beneath his calm facade.
"We know what you've done," James said, his voice steady but brimming with restrained anger. "Margaret, the smuggling operation, the way you've kept this entire town under your thumb. It ends here."
Richard chuckled, the sound cold and devoid of humor. "Is that so? And what do you plan to do with your little pile of evidence? Go to the authorities?" He took another step closer, his presence overwhelming. "I own the authorities. I own this town. You have no idea what you're up against."
From the corner of her eye, Clara saw Sarah trembling, her back pressed against the wall. Her face was pale, her expression a mix of fear and guilt. For a moment, Clara wondered whose side she was truly on.
"We're not afraid of you," Clara said, her voice cutting through the tension. "You can't keep hiding behind threats and power. People like you always fall."
Richard's gaze flicked to her, and a slow, menacing smile spread across his face. "Ah, Clara Caldwell. The journalist. You've been quite the nuisance, haven't you? Digging into things that don't concern you, stirring up trouble where there was none." He leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "I wonder, how far are you willing to go? Are you ready to lose everything, like Margaret did?"
The mention of Margaret sent a jolt of anger through Clara. She stepped forward, her fear melting into defiance. "Margaret didn't lose. She left behind the truth. And we're going to make sure everyone sees it."
Richard's smile vanished, replaced by a dangerous gleam in his eyes. "You're bold, I'll give you that. But boldness doesn't win wars. Power does. And I have more power than you could ever imagine."
Suddenly, there was a loud crash from outside—a sound that shattered the tense silence. Clara's heart leapt into her throat as the unmistakable noise of shattering glass echoed through the mansion.
"What was that?" Sarah whispered, her voice trembling.
Richard didn't flinch, his cold demeanor unshaken. "It seems my associates have arrived. You didn't think I'd come here alone, did you?"
Clara's mind raced. They were trapped. Whoever was outside wasn't here to help them. She glanced at James, whose expression had hardened into one of grim determination.
"Sarah," James said sharply, his voice low and urgent. "Do you want to make this right? Do you want to finally stand up to him?"
Sarah's eyes widened, darting between James and her father. For a moment, it looked as if she might crumble under the weight of her fear. But then, something shifted. She straightened, her trembling hands forming fists at her sides.
"Yes," she said, her voice firm despite the quaver. "I do."
Richard laughed, the sound cruel and mocking. "Oh, Sarah. Always so naive. You think these people will protect you? They'll turn on you the moment it suits them. Just like everyone else."
"That's enough!" Sarah's voice rose, startling everyone in the room. "You've controlled me my entire life. You've controlled this town. But you're done. I won't let you hurt anyone else."
Before Richard could respond, Sarah moved toward a hidden panel in the wall—a compartment Clara and James hadn't noticed before. She pressed a small latch, and with a soft click, the panel opened to reveal a stack of documents.
"These are yours, aren't they?" Sarah said, pulling out the files. "Your accounts. Your deals. Everything you've done to keep your empire running." She turned to Clara, thrusting the papers into her hands. "Take them. Use them."
Richard's calm mask cracked, his voice sharp and dangerous. "Sarah, don't you dare—"
The sound of footsteps thundered down the hall, drawing closer. Richard's men were almost there. James grabbed Clara's arm. "We have to go. Now."
Clara clutched the papers to her chest as James led her toward the back door of the study. Sarah hesitated for a moment, staring at her father, before following them.
"Run all you want," Richard called after them, his voice echoing through the house. "But you can't hide forever. This isn't over."
As they fled into the night, Clara couldn't shake the feeling that Richard was right. The fight was far from over. But with Sarah's defection and the damning evidence now in their possession, they finally had a chance to turn the tide.