Chapter 114 Borrowed time
Day 10 brought something unexpected.
A lawyer…Network-affiliated. Walking into the bakery with cameras rolling.
“I’m here to offer terms,” she said in a Professional and Polite way. Like she wasn’t representing people who’d tried to blow them up three days ago.
“We’re not interested,” Aiden said.
“Hear me out, my clients are willing to withdraw all claims to Frost Industries, to void the contract clause entirely, and to leave you alone forever.”
“In exchange for what?”
“You stop the livestream, sign NDAs and never speak about the network again. And…” She pulled out documents. “You have to transfer Elena and Ethan into a trust Managed by neutral third parties. Until they’re eighteen.”
The bakery went silent.
Seventy-five million people watching.
“You want my children,” Ariella said slowly.
“We want assurance they won’t be used against us, That this cycle of exposure and retaliation ends. The trust would ensure their safety and education. You’d still be their parents but legal custody would be…complicated.”
“No,” Aiden said immediately.
“Think about what you’re refusing, Safety. Stability, an end to this siege. All you have to do is…”
“Give them our kids,” Lily finished. “That’s what you’re asking, for us to give you the next generation of Frosts so you can control them the way you controlled Richard, the way you tried to control Aiden.”
The lawyer’s expression didn’t change. “The offer expires in twenty-four hours, Consider it carefully. Your children’s safety depends on your decision.”
She left.
The comment section erupted.
DON’T DO IT
This is exactly what they want
YOUR KIDS ARE NOT NEGOTIABLE
Marcus appeared from the back room. “That was a power play. They’re testing whether you’ll break. Whether public pressure will force you to accept.”
“We won’t,” Ariella said.
“But some people will think you should,” Jessica warned. “Think you’re being selfish. Risking your kids’ lives for pride…”
“Then let them think that,” Aiden said. “We’re not trading our children for peace. That’s not peace. That’s surrender.”
Geoffrey Hale stood up and walked to the camera.
“I gave them my daughter,” he said quietly. “Thought I was protecting her, I thought cooperation would keep her safe but they killed her anyway and then used her death to control me for eight more years.” He looked directly at the lens. “Don’t make my mistake. Don’t give them anything, because they don’t stop, they never stop, unless you stop them first.”
His testimony was raw, Real, and Devastating.
The comment section shifted.
He’s right
Don’t negotiate with terrorists
We’re with you
By morning they'd grown to ninety million viewers.
By afternoon they were protests outside network-affiliated companies. People demanding accountability and justice.
The Frosts had done it again.
Turned survival into activism.
Turned fear into momentum.
But the network was patient.
And forty days remained until the anniversary.
Forty days of attempts.
Forty days of streaming.
Forty days of the world watching to see if justice could survive when the people fighting for it were exhausted, traumatized, and running on borrowed time.
The answer wasn’t clear yet.
But they were still here.
Still fighting.
Still refusing to quit.
That would have to be enough.
For now.