PART 5:

I know that, too. Vivien walked over to where Nathan was standing. “Are you scared?” Nathan thought about Ellie sleeping upstairs. “About 10 years of carrying secrets. About 73 people who deserve someone to fight for them, even if they weren’t alive to see it. Terrified,” he admitted.

“But I’m done running,” Vivian nodded slowly. “Then we fight together. Together.” Outside, the first light of dawn was breaking over Ashton Ridge. The dying town looked almost beautiful in the early morning glow, full of potential it would probably never live up to. But inside the garage, with the flickering lights and the decade of evidence and the impossible fight ahead of them, Nathan and Viven began planning how to bring down a man who thought he was untouchable.

They had no idea if they’d win. They just knew they couldn’t live with themselves if they didn’t try. The attack started 48 hours after Mercer left the garage. First, it was the customers. Mrs. Chen called on Saturday morning to cancel her oil change appointment. She’d been bringing her Buick to Nathan for six years, never missed a scheduled service.

“I’m sorry, Nathan,” she said, her voice tight with embarrassment. “My son saw something online about you and some lawsuit with Crossline Motors. He thinks maybe it’s not safe.” “It’s fine, Mrs. Chen.” “I don’t believe what they’re saying, but is really it’s fine.” She hung up quickly, relieved not to have to explain further.

By noon, four more cancellations came through. By Monday, Nathan’s appointment book looked like a ghost town. “Viven found him in the garage that evening, staring at his empty calendar with the kind of blank expression that came from being too tired to be angry anymore. “They got to your customers,” she said. “Local Facebook group.

Someone posted an article calling me a fraud and a safety risk.” Nathan tossed his phone onto the workbench. It’s been shared 234 times in a town of 3,000 people. That’s basically everyone. Viven pulled up the article on her laptop. The headline read, “Disgraced mechanic attempts to extort automotive giant.

” The by line belonged to a corporate PR firm Nathan recognized from Mercer’s Rolodex. “It’s a hit piece,” Vivian said. “Completely fabricated quotes, no actual sources. My legal team can have this retracted by tomorrow.” Doesn’t matter. People already believe it. Then will Viven Nathan’s voice was flat. I’ve been through this before.

10 years ago, when Mercer blacklisted me from the industry, he used the exact same playbook, planted stories, destroyed my credibility, made sure nobody would hire me. He gestured at the empty garage. This is just round two. Viven closed her laptop slowly. I’m sorry for what? For not believing you 10 years ago.

for being part of the system that did this to you. Nathan shrugged. You were what, 20 years old? Probably still in business school. 22 and I was already being groomed to take over the company. She paused. Mercer used to tell me stories about disgruntled employees who tried to sabotage Crossline. He made it sound like protecting the company from people like you was noble, necessary. Maybe he believed that.

He believed profit was the only thing that mattered. Vivien’s hands clenched. And he taught me the same thing. Maximize shareholder value. Protect the brand. Never let emotions interfere with business decisions. So, what changed? Viven looked around the garage at the filing cabinets full of evidence, the worn tools, the flickering lights Nathan still hadn’t replaced.

“I met someone who chose truth over survival,” she said quietly. “And it made me realize I’d spent my entire life choosing wrong.” Before Nathan could respond, footsteps echoed on the stairs from the apartment above. Ellie appeared in pajamas covered with cartoon astronauts, dragging her stuffed rabbit by one ear. Dad, I can’t sleep.

Nathan’s expression immediately softened. Bad dream. No, just thinking too loud. About what? Ellie climbed onto a stool near the workbench, swinging her legs. Tommy’s mom said, “You’re in trouble.” She told Tommy not to talk to me at recess. Nathan’s jaw tightened. Tommy’s mom is wrong. That’s what I said. But then Sarah’s mom picked Sarah up early from school and Sarah said it’s because her mom doesn’t want her near me anymore.

Ellie’s voice got smaller. Am I in trouble, too? No, baby. You’re not in trouble. Then why is everyone being weird? Nathan crouched down to Ellie’s eye level. Some people are saying things about me that aren’t true, and it’s making other people nervous, but it’s going to be okay. What are they saying? Grown-up stuff that doesn’t matter.

If it doesn’t matter, why are people being mean? Nathan didn’t have an answer for that. Vivian spoke up from across the garage. They’re being mean because your dad is trying to help people who got hurt, and some powerful people don’t want him to do that. Ellie looked at her seriously. Like superheroes? Sort of. But superheroes always win.

Not always, Vivien said. Sometimes they fight really hard and still lose, but they fight anyway because it’s the right thing to do. Ellie considered this. Is my dad a superhero? Yeah, Vivian said. I think he is. Nathan shot her a look that clearly said, “Don’t put ideas in her head.” But Ellie was already grinning.

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