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Jessica covered her mouth.
Diane grabbed the papers with trembling hands.
“This…”
She flipped through them desperately.
“This has to be fake.”
Arthur calmly replied,
“These records are registered with the Securities Commission.”
“You may verify them.”
The silence became unbearable.
Brendan slowly looked at Cassidy.
“You…”
His voice cracked.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Cassidy answered honestly.
“Because I wanted someone to love me.”
“Not my position.”
“Not my wealth.”
“Just me.”
He lowered his head.
“I would have.”
Cassidy gently shook her head.
“No.”
“You loved the version of me you believed was powerless.”
“You mocked my apartment.”
“You criticized my clothes.”
“You laughed whenever your family called me a burden.”
“You never once defended me.”
Brendan couldn’t answer.
Because she was right.
Diane suddenly burst into tears.
“Cassidy…”
“I’m sorry.”
“I made mistakes.”
Cassidy looked at her with surprising kindness.
“No.”
“Mistakes happen by accident.”
“What you did today was a choice.”
The older woman’s shoulders dropped.
Arthur quietly spoke again.
“Protocol 7 has been completed.”
Brendan looked confused.
“What exactly is Protocol 7?”
Arthur answered professionally.
“It is an emergency governance procedure activated only when the Chairwoman experiences harassment, threats, or actions that could expose the company to reputational or legal risk.”
He continued.
“It requires immediate review of every executive directly connected to the incident.”
Brendan felt sick.
Arthur added,
“It is designed to protect the company.”
Not to punish.
To protect.
Cassidy reached for her purse.
“I never wanted revenge.”
She looked around the room.
“I wanted respect.”
She placed a small envelope beside Brendan.
“I’ve also established an educational trust for our daughter.”
“It will pay for every school, every university, every opportunity she chooses.”
Brendan looked surprised.