My Eight Brothers Gave Me a Scary Toy as a Joke… Wait, It Actually Saved Me Chapter 07
The second Sloane realized the Prescotts couldn’t shield her
much longer, she started planning her exit.
She was smart.
And she was vicious.
She went to Graham first, crying.
“Graham, just move the international project funds now. I
know someone who can save Prescott Group.”
She went to Nolan.
Nolan, I need you to get rid of the last set of documents.
You’re the only one I trust.”
She went to Adrian.
Tessa’s coming for me now, and she’s going to fake some
kind of medical crisis. Get me a statement ready. I don’t want
her dragging you all down with me.”
They knew something was off.
They believed her anyway.
Same as always.
While they covered for her, Sloane planted a story,
She told the press my exhibition had deliberately
traumatized children, claiming that multiple kids had
already been psychologically harmed.
Our international partner fired off an emergency email.
Produce full compliance paperwork within twenty–four
hours, or the North American partnership is terminated.]
Camille and I worked through the night.
Every compliance document, pulled, organized, cross–checked.
Not a single page could have a mistake.
I typed until my fingers went numb and my vision kept fading at the edges.
The jack–in–the–box sat by the monitor, jaw clicking open and shut.
[Hold on. Hold on.]
[You’re pulling one all–nighter. They’ll be pulling through
endless interrogations.]
The next morning, the international review panel showed up
at the exhibition hall in person.
They went through everything: material safety, psychological
intervention protocols, emergency evacuation systems. All of it.
The director signed the North American partnership
agreement right there on the floor.
Fearless Foundry officially launched into hospitals, schools, and nonprofits.
The launch event lights were blinding.
My palms were slick.
But I didn’t hide.
I said, “Fear shouldn’t be used to control people.”
It should be understood. Supported. And guided, safely, toward the door.”
The room broke into applause.
While the cameras were on me, the police were making their move.
Money trails, falsified evidence, the exhibition sabotage, the
system tampering: it all linked back.
When Sloane realized she was cornered, she didn’t try to protect the brothers.
She sold them out, handing over evidence of every violation they’d committed.
She sobbed through her police interview.
I was just staying with the Prescotts.”
“They were family. I didn’t dare say no.”
“I didn’t know what was going on.”
They finally saw what she was.
But it was already too late.
Prescott Group went under investigation and filed for
Every brother faced separate criminal charges.
They caught Sloane at Bellhaven Harbor.
She’d grabbed the last of the money and was trying to board
a chartered yacht headed for international waters.
A few of the brothers caught up to her. That’s when she
dropped the mask.
You actually thought I cared about any of you?”
I wanted the Prescott money, Tessa’s spot, and eight idiots
willing to do my dirty work.”
You were stupid enough to fall for it. That’s on you.”
The fixers Sloane had hired turned on the brothers. Held
them hostage, demanding payment for her gambling debts and laundering losses.
The police arrived in time.
Sloane was still screaming when they cuffed her.
“I didn’t do anything wrong!”
“They helped me because they wanted to!”
While all of that was happening. I was somewhere else.
At the hospital, walking a group of kids through their very first session.
A little girl who was afraid of the dark held my toy against
her chest and looked up at me.
Tessa, is it weird if I cry?”
I crouched down and wiped away her tears.
“It’s not weird at all.”
“When you’re done, we’ll take the next step together. Nice and slow.”
The jack–in–the–box rattled quietly inside my bag.
[Look at you, coward.]
Now you’re the one showing them the way out.]