Chapter 180 Throne Takeover

Chapter 180 Throne Takeover
[Barrett]

I caught Sera as she fell into my arms, the glass shard she'd been holding dropping to the floor. My heart hammered against my chest—not from exertion, but from a fear I'd rarely experienced in my life. The image of her holding that makeshift weapon to her own throat would haunt me for years to come.

"You're safe now," I whispered, quickly scanning her for injuries. My fingers brushed against her cheek, confirming she was real, alive, and with me again.

Sera clung to my jacket, her body trembling slightly. "I knew you would come," she said, her voice stronger than I expected given what she'd just been through.

I pressed a quick kiss to her forehead before shifting into tactical mode. The elevator wasn't secure—we needed to move. I peered through the open doors, assessing our situation. The sounds of distant gunfire echoed through the building.

"We can't leave through the ground floor. Every exit is being watched," I explained, retrieving my handgun from its holster. "I need you to stay behind me. We're going back to the top floor."

Sera's eyes widened. "Back? Why would we go back?"

I met her gaze, letting her see the cold determination in mine. "Because I'm not just here to rescue you," I said, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "I'm here to end this family power game once and for all. This is my chance to force Donnell to make a choice."

She nodded, understanding immediately. That was one of the things I loved about Sera—she never needed excessive explanation. She simply trusted my judgment.

I led her to the emergency stairwell adjacent to the elevator shaft. "My team has secured most of the building," I explained as we climbed the stairs. "But the real fight is happening upstairs."

The sound of gunfire grew louder as we ascended. When we reached the top floor, I held Sera back, peering carefully around the corner. The hallway was a battleground—my security team exchanging fire with Thompson Tower's guards.

I touched the comm device in my ear. "Jay, status report."

"We've secured most of the building, sir," Jay's voice came through clearly. "Donnell and Maximilian are cornered in the main conference room. Sullivan has switched sides—he's with us now."

"Good. Maintain positions. I'm going in personally."

We moved carefully along the wall, staying low. When we reached the conference room doors, I turned to Sera.

"You should go with Jay. He'll get you out safely."

She straightened her shoulders, a familiar determination settling over her features. "No. I want to face them with you. This is my fight too."

I studied her for a moment. Most people would have been broken by what she'd experienced—being drugged, kidnapped, threatened. But Sera stood before me with fire in her eyes, not a victim but a fighter.

"Stay behind me," I finally conceded, squeezing her hand.

With my gun ready, I pushed open the conference room door. The scene inside was exactly what I'd expected. Donnell stood in the center of the room, looking both furious and uncertain. Maximilian was positioned to his right, his royal arrogance dimmed by the armed security personnel surrounding him. Sullivan stood in the corner, his weapon trained on Maximilian. On the large screen on the wall, Dominic's face appeared via video link, his expression cycling between shock and outrage.

"Father," I said, my voice as cold as ice. "It seems I've returned just in time."

Donnell's eyes flashed with anger. "This is treason," he spat out. "Do you have any idea what you're doing?"

I stepped further into the room, keeping Sera safely behind me. "I know exactly what I'm doing. I'm stopping an illegal political deal and a kidnapping." I paused, letting my gaze drift to the screen where Dominic was watching. "More importantly, I'm preventing a coup orchestrated by my dear brother."

"What coup?" Donnell's brow furrowed, genuine confusion crossing his features.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out a small projection device, activating it with a flick of my thumb. A holographic display appeared, showing recorded conversations between Dominic and GlobalPharm's CEO.

"The pharmaceutical crisis was manufactured," I explained calmly, watching my father's face as understanding began to dawn. "The goal was to destroy my political future while positioning Dominic to replace me as the next presidential candidate." I took another step toward Donnell. "And you, Father, were simply a pawn in their plan."

I continued moving toward him until only a few feet separated us. Twenty-eight years of tension hung in the air between us. "You've never fully accepted me because my birth took away the only woman you ever truly loved. But do you know something? I never resented you for it. I only tried to be what you wanted—strong, smart, visionary."

Donnell's expression grew complex, shock and confusion warring on his features.

In one fluid motion, I turned and aimed my gun at Maximilian. "As for you, Prince," I said, my voice deceptively soft, "if you ever touch my wife again, I will personally ensure Valtoria disappears from the map."

The prince paled but attempted to salvage his position. "You're forgetting one thing, Thompson. I control Valtoria's pharmaceutical raw materials. If I leave, your country's drug crisis will only worsen."

"You're wrong," I replied evenly. "While you and my father were conspiring, I was establishing alternative supply chains throughout Europe. That was the real purpose of my trip. As of tomorrow, Elyria will no longer depend on Valtoria's supplies." I allowed myself a small, cold smile. "Your leverage is gone."

Maximilian's face turned ashen. On the screen, Dominic looked utterly destroyed.

I turned back to Donnell, feeling Sera's presence behind me like a source of strength. "Father, it's time to choose. Either stand with Dominic's conspiracy and face a judicial inquiry alongside him, or acknowledge that I am the true heir to the Thompson family."

The room fell into silence, everyone waiting for Donnell's decision. I kept my expression neutral, but inside, a lifetime of seeking his approval warred with my anger at his betrayal.

Donnell looked from me to the screen showing Dominic, then to Maximilian. Something shifted in his eyes—perhaps recognition, perhaps resignation. He straightened his shoulders, the Thompson family pride evident even in defeat.

"I..." he began, his voice uncharacteristically uncertain.

I held my breath, feeling Sera's hand slip into mine. Whatever happened next would change everything—for our family, for Elyria, and for us.