LET'S BREAK THEM

CHAPTER 20: FIFTY MILLION NO

Step 19: Survive the night.

Step 20: Say no to 50 million.

Morning came too fast.

I woke up to voices downstairs. Men's voices. Serious ones.

Low. Angry. The kind of voices that show up with briefcases.

My heart jumped. For a second I thought it was Carter's men again. Another brick.

I threw on a hoodie and crept down the stairs.

Three men in suits sat in Ben's living room.

Briefcases. Files. Leather shoes. The whole "lawyer" look.

Ben stood by the window, arms crossed. He looked exhausted. No sleep. 5am stubble.

And then he saw me.

"Morning," he said softly. "This is Kudo. Kudo, this is Mr. Adebayo. My dad's lawyer."

The oldest lawyer stood up. Gray hair. $5000 watch. "Miss Kudo. We need to talk."

"About what?" I hugged myself. The house was cold.

"About the Carter Group," Mr. Adebayo said.

"Mr. Carter Sr. is willing to make a final deal. From jail."

Ben's jaw tightened. "No."

"Ben, let me finish," the lawyer said.

"He's offering 50 million dollars. Wire today. In exchange for Miss Kudo signing an NDA and leaving the country."

50 million.

The number hit me like a brick. Again.

Bigger than the last one. Bigger than the one in the hospital.

"For what?" I asked, voice shaking.

"For disappearing," the lawyer said. "For never speaking about what happened. For deleting the book. For letting the company settle quietly."

"For you and your mother to live anywhere. Privately. Safely."

Silence.

Ben stepped in front of me. Blocking me. "The answer is no."

"Ben, think," another lawyer said. Younger. Slick. "This money could change your life. And hers."

"You’ll never work a day again. She won’t either."

"My life doesn't need dirty money," Ben snapped.

"And she’s not for sale. She never was."

I stared at the floor. 50 million.

I could pay off everything. Help my mom. Buy her a house. Never worry about rent again.

Set up a foundation. Help every girl on his blacklist.

All I had to do was leave. Keep quiet. Delete everything.

"Can I... can I think about it?" I whispered.

Ben turned to me. His eyes were hurt. Betrayed. "Kudo?"

"I just need a minute," I said. And I ran upstairs.

My room felt smaller now.

50 million dollars vs one billionaire's son who burns ramen.

50 million vs truth.

My phone buzzed nonstop.

`Reader comment: TAKE THE MONEY KUDO!!`

`Reader comment: Ben deserves better than to be bought off`

`Reader comment: This is a trap I feel it`

`Reader comment: 50M??? GIRL RUN`

I dropped the phone. Couldn't breathe.

A knock.

Ben.

"Can I come in?"

"Yeah."

He sat on the floor, not the bed. Like he didn't want to assume. Like he was giving me space.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I didn't know they were coming today. They showed up at 6am."

"It's not your fault."

"Kudo, you don't have to say no because of me," he said quietly.

"50 million is... it's life changing. For you. For your mom. If you want to take it, I’ll understand. I won’t hate you."

I looked at him. Tired. Loyal. Broke on purpose. Choosing this.

"No," I said. "I don’t want it."

"Why?"

"Because the moment I take it, I’m letting him win.

And because..." I swallowed. Hard. "Because for the first time, someone stood in front of me. Not behind money. In front of me."

"You did."

Ben stared. Then he laughed, but it was shaky. Wet.

"You're an i***t, you know that?"

"Probably."

"Thank you," he whispered. "For choosing me. For choosing us."

Downstairs, the lawyers were still waiting. Drinking coffee.

Ben stood up. Held out his hand. "Come on. Let's tell them together."

We walked down side by side.

I looked Mr. Adebayo in the eye. Didn't flinch.

"My answer is no. I’m not leaving. And I’m not staying quiet."

"I’m signing my book. I’m telling the truth. In court."

The lawyer sighed and closed his briefcase. Stood up.

"Mr. Carter won’t like this."

"Good," Ben said. "Let him hate it from jail."

The door closed behind them. Three black cars. Gone.

And just like that, we chose the hard way.

Step 20: Complete.

The offer came. 50 million.

We said no.

`Chapter 20.

50 million dollars.

One choice.

We picked truth.

We picked each other.

-K`