The Billionaire's Abused Bride

BURN IT ALL DOWN

CHAPTER 20:

The moment I hit enter everything changed.

The screens started moving fast.

Lines of code were scrolling down quickly.

Systems were unlocking.

Barriers were falling.

Blackwood was exposed for the first time.

Alarms were ringing louder than before. They were not in control anymore.

The man in black shouted "Stop her".

It was too late.

I was moving fast my fingers were flying across the console.

I knew what I was doing.

One of the guards said "This is impossible".

I said "No it's inevitable".

Ethan was standing behind me watching my back.

He called out to Kieran.

Kieran said he was handling the guards.

I didn't turn around. I heard the fight.

It was fast and brutal.

Kieran was not holding back anymore.

That was good because I was not holding back either.

Ethan asked me how long I needed.

I said a minute.

He said it was not time.

I said it had to be enough.

My eyes were scanning the system.

Everything was open now.

I could see all the names, accounts and secrets.

My chest felt tight.

This was bigger than I thought.

Ethan warned me that they were trying to shut me out.

I said I saw that.

I was moving faster.

I had to be faster.

This was not about escaping anymore.

This was about ending it for good.

Ethan said I was not just deleting, I was releasing it.

I said yes I was releasing it to everyone.

There was silence for a moment.

Then Ethan said that was going to start something I could not control.

I said I knew that.

He asked if I was okay with that.

I paused for a second then I said yes.

Because this kind of truth was not meant to be controlled.

It was meant to break things.

Behind us a gunshot rang out.

I flinched.

Ethan turned around instantly.

Kieran said he was fine.

I didn't hesitate, I kept moving.

I was Decrypting and broadcasting all the files.

The man in black lunged forward desperate and furious.

He said I had no idea what I was doing.

I said I knew what I was doing.

He said I would destroy everything.

I said that was good.

He stopped for a second then he said I thought this ended with me.

I said no it ended with him.

His expression changed; he was angry and scared.

Because he knew Blackwood was not untouchable anymore.

I said I was almost done.

Ethan nodded, then we would leave.

Something in me hesitated.

Because I knew once this was finished there was no going

Then Kieran shouted my name.

I glanced back. Saw a guard with a g*n.

The g*n was pointed at Ethan.

Time slowed down.

I moved before I thought.

I shoved Ethan aside.

The g*n fired.

I felt pain in my side.

It was sharp and burning.

I Stumbled.

Ethan caught me before I fell.

My vision was blurry my,ears were ringing.

I could still hear the system.

It was still running, still uploading.

I whispered to Ethan to finish it.

He said I was not dying here.

I said I was not. It did not feel convincing.

Ethan hesitated then he nodded.

He lowered me to the ground. Rushed to the console.

Kieran appeared, breathing hard with blood on his arm.

He looked at me. Something in his eyes changed.

He said I was bleeding.

I said it was not the time.

He said to stay awake.

I said I would try.

The room was spinning. I forced myself to focus.

I looked at the screen at the progress bar.

It was there.

Almost done.

Ethan said it was done.

At that moment the system glitched then locked.

Every screen went black.

There was silence.

It was heavy and unreal.

I whispered to Ethan if it worked.

He looked at the console back, at me.

Slowly he smiled.

He said yes.

Relief flooded through me, warm and fading.

Real.

I whispered that we did it.

Kieran said no I did.

I let out a breath.

For a moment everything felt still.

Peaceful.

Like the storm had passed.

Deep down I knew better.

Because this was not the end.

It was the beginning.

The world was about to change.

I had just pulled the trigger.

My eyes started to close, heavy and too heavy.

Ethan said to stay with him.

I tried. I really did.

The darkness crept in again.

Pulling.

Ethan's voice faded, distant.

And the last thing I felt was his hand holding mine.

Tight like he was not ready to let go.

This time I did not know if I would come back.