A cleaning lady approached a millionaire and told him not to travel with his wife. The next morning, there was a luxury car next to her humble house…

What does that mean? How does this connect to my father’s death? James hesitated for a moment before continuing. Your father wasn’t just framed for embezzlement, he was going to blow the whistle on Amanda’s family, expose everything. They couldn’t let that happen, so they set him up to take the fall.

And when they realized he wasn’t going to go quietly, they made sure he didn’t have the chance to talk. Emily’s breath caught in her throat. Her father had been trying to do the right thing.

He had been trying to stop Amanda’s family, to protect people from their corruption, and they had killed him for it. The realization was like a punch to the gut, the pain of it almost too much to bear. I can’t believe this, Emily whispered, her hands trembling.

All this time, I thought he was just another victim of a random accident. James reached across the table, placing his hand over hers. I know this is a lot to take in, but you need to understand, Emily, they’re not going to stop.

Amanda will do whatever it takes to protect her family’s secrets, and now that she knows you’re a threat, she won’t hesitate to come after you. Emily nodded, trying to steady herself. She had known this was dangerous, but hearing it laid out so plainly made it all feel much more real.

Amanda wasn’t just trying to silence her, she was trying to protect a legacy of corruption and deceit, one that had cost her father his life. And now, Emily was standing in the way of that. I’m not going to let her win, Emily said, her voice firm.

I don’t care what it takes, she can’t get away with this. James squeezed her hand, his expression filled with admiration. You’re stronger than you know, Emily, but we need to be smart about this.

We don’t have enough evidence yet to take her down. We need something concrete, something that ties her directly to your father’s death and the illegal activities. Emily’s mind raced as she thought about what he was saying.

What about Ryan? He’s involved too. If we can get him to turn on Amanda, maybe he’ll tell us what we need to know. James nodded.

I’ve thought about that. Ryan’s loyalty to Amanda is questionable at best. He’s in this for the money, not for her.

If we can make him believe that siding with us is his best option, he might be willing to talk. Emily felt a surge of hope. It was a risky plan, but it was the best shot they had.

How do we get to him? James leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. I’ve been keeping tabs on him. He frequents a bar downtown, a place Amanda would never set foot in.

It’s low-key, out of the way. I think it’s where he goes to unwind, away from the scrutiny of Amanda’s world. Emily’s heart pounded in her chest.

The idea of confronting Ryan terrified her. But if they could get him to crack, it could be the break they needed. We need to move fast, she said.

Amanda’s already on to me. She called me the other day, threatening me. James’s eyes widened in alarm.

She called you. What did she say? She said I made a big mistake, Emily replied, her voice shaking slightly. That people like me don’t mess with people like her and get away with it.

James’s jaw tightened, anger flashing in his eyes. She’s not going to get away with this. We’ll make sure of that.

Emily nodded, feeling the resolve settle deeper in her chest. They had to move quickly, before Amanda tightened her grip on the situation. Every second counted now, and they couldn’t afford to waste any time.

They finished their meeting quickly, agreeing to meet at the bar where Ryan frequented later that night. As Emily walked out of the cafe, she couldn’t help but feel a mix of fear and determination. This was it, the moment they had been working toward.

If they could get Ryan to talk, they could finally bring Amanda down. But if they failed, the consequences didn’t bear thinking about. That evening, Emily met James outside the bar, her nerves on edge.

The neon lights flickered overhead, casting a dull glow over the cracked sidewalk. The bar wasn’t anything special, the kind of place that blended into the background of New York’s sprawling nightlife scene. But tonight, it felt like the center of the universe.

You ready for this? James asked, his voice steady, but tense. Emily nodded, though her stomach was in knots. As ready as I’ll ever be.

They entered the bar together, the dim lighting and low murmur of voices immediately enveloping them. The smell of stale beer and cigarette smoke hung in the air, a sharp contrast to the clean, polished environments they were used to. It felt dangerous in a way, but that only seemed fitting.

Ryan was there, just as James had predicted, sitting alone at the far end of the bar. He didn’t notice them at first. His attention focused on the drink in front of him.

Emily’s heart pounded in her chest as she and James made their way toward him. When they reached him, James spoke first. Ryan.

Ryan looked up, surprise flashing in his eyes. For a moment, he looked like he might bolt, but James quickly took the seat next to him, blocking any potential escape. We need to talk, James said, his voice low and firm.

Ryan glanced between them, suspicion flickering across his face. What’s this about? Emily leaned forward, her voice steady despite the nerves twisting in her stomach. It’s about Amanda.

We know everything. Ryan’s eyes narrowed, but there was a flicker of something, fear, uncertainty in his expression. He didn’t respond, waiting for them to continue.

You’re in deep, Ryan, James said, his tone cutting through the tension. But it doesn’t have to end badly for you. If you cooperate with us, we can protect you.

But you need to help us bring Amanda down. Ryan’s jaw clenched, his eyes darting around the room. Emily could see the internal struggle playing out in his mind.

He wasn’t loyal to Amanda, not really. He was loyal to the money, the lifestyle. And if he thought his safety was in jeopardy, there was a good chance he’d flip.

You don’t know what she’s capable of, Ryan muttered, his voice low. Emily leaned in closer, her voice soft but insistent. I know she killed my father.

I know she’ll do anything to protect herself. But you don’t have to go down with her, Ryan. You can walk away from this.

For a long moment, Ryan didn’t say anything. The silence stretched between them, heavy with tension. But finally, he sighed, his shoulders slumping in defeat.

All right, he said quietly. I’ll tell you what you need to know. Ryan’s confession was quiet, almost subdued…