Chapter 52: Checkmate

Chris sat in his car, the city lights reflecting in his cold, unreadable gaze. The Huntingtons had spent years playing the game of wealth and power, moving their daughter like a chess piece.

Now, they had just realized—they were never the players.

They were the pawns.

Ethan's voice crackled through the earpiece. "Jonathan Huntington just made some calls. His financial advisor is freaking out."

Chris smirked. As expected.

"Let me guess," he said smoothly. "They're trying to figure out who has the kind of money to wipe out their debt in one move."

"Bingo," Ethan replied. "But here's the fun part—they're hitting a wall. No leads. No records. It's like the money appeared out of thin air."

Chris leaned back, adjusting his cuffs. That's because it did.

Blackwood had spent years perfecting its ability to operate in the shadows. Massive power. Zero visibility.

And now, the Huntingtons were realizing they had no idea who had just bought their future.

"Jonathan Huntington will say yes," Chris said confidently. "Not because he wants to. But because he has to."

Ethan chuckled. "And Skylar?"

Chris's smirk faded slightly. She was the only part of this equation he hadn't fully solved.

Because unlike her father—Skylar couldn't be bought.

She didn't chase wealth. She didn't care about power.

And that made her dangerous.

"She'll fight it," Chris admitted. "But she'll stay."

Ethan was silent for a beat. Then, "Because she loves you?"

Chris's grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly. He didn't respond.

Ethan exhaled. "Damn. You're really betting everything on this girl, huh?"

Chris's jaw clenched. It wasn't a bet. It was a fact.

Skylar belonged with him.

And if she thought otherwise?

He'd change her mind.