I let out a laugh. "An opportunity? To inherit the weapon my father built to destroy your family?"
"To dismantle it. To redirect it. Maybe even to make it something else entirely." His gaze holds mine. "Or to burn it to the ground, if that's what you want. But the choice is yours."
The choice is mine. Such a simple concept, yet it still seems alien to me.
Cormac ruined my life and that of many others, and now across the table in a manila folder is his entire business, waiting for me to decide what to do with it.
And you know what? I do.
I lean toward Callum and look into his eyes.
"Or you," I say.
He raises an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
I nod and straighten in my chair. The scattered pieces of my thoughts suddenly align, clicking into place with clarity.
"Bring them back in."
Callum studies me for a long moment, then rises and opens the door. Edward and Claire file back in, retaking their seats.
I wait until they're settled before I speak.
"I would like to sign the company over to the Killaney Trust."
"What?" Edward says, his professional composure cracking for the first time.
Claire blinks at me. "Ms. Quinn, I'm not sure you understand…"
"I understand perfectly," I interrupt, my voice stronger now. "I want to transfer my shares, or whatever it is I have, to the Killaney Trust. Can you do that?"
"Zaria," Callum says, his voice low and urgent. "We should talk about this."
"Technically," Claire says slowly, "as the sole heir, you do have the authority to transfer your holdings. But there's a process. Board approval, securities regulations, potential antitrust concerns given the overlap between Shadowharbor's holdings and existing Killaney Trust operations."
"Zaria," Callum says.
I turn to look at him and take his hand. The one that held me steady in that burning building. The one that pulled me out when no one else would have come.
"That man destroyed my life," I say, trying not to cry. "This is my vengeance. My revenge. Taking the weapon he built and handing it to the people he hated most." A smile tugs at my lips, small but real. "And besides, maybe I can help you run it."
The corner of Callum's mouth twitches. "You want to help me run the company you're giving me?"
"Someone has to keep you from working yourself to death."
He's quiet for a few seconds, and then he asks me, "You're sure?"
"One hundred percent." I nod.
I turn to the lawyers, who are watching this exchange with expressions that suggest they've never encountered anything quite like us before.
"Where do I sign?"
Edward shuffles papers like he's trying to buy himself time to think. "It's not quite that simple. We'll need to draft the contracts. Transfer documents, liability waivers, regulatory filings. It'll take a few days, at minimum."
"How many days?" I ask.
"Three, perhaps four. We'll need to coordinate with your…" he glances at Callum, "with the Killaney Trust's legal team to ensure everything is handled properly."
