Part 3: The Driveway
The front door burst open instantly.
My mother stepped outside first in fuzzy slippers, completely confused.
Vanessa followed.
Then Trevor.
Then my father already looking angry simply because he didn’t understand what he was seeing.
“Sophia,” my mother whispered. “What is happening?”
Colonel Kane ignored her entirely.
“Secure extraction authorized,” he said to his team.
Trevor frowned. “Extraction?”
I stepped forward calmly.
“Morning,” I said.
Vanessa looked between me and the military convoy in disbelief.
“What did you do?”
“I accepted a partnership.”
My father scoffed loudly.
“For what? Typing emails?”
I looked directly at him.
“Blackridge Systems acquired my software yesterday. I officially take over as CTO tonight.”
Silence.
Trevor’s expression changed first.
He recognized the company name immediately.
Everyone in finance did.
“Blackridge?” he repeated carefully.
Colonel Kane nodded once.
“The same Blackridge.”
My mother covered her mouth.
Vanessa looked suddenly sick.
And for the first time in my life, my father had absolutely nothing to say.
Then my mother whispered something small and horrified.
“You slept in the garage…”
“Yes.”
“You should’ve told us.”
I laughed softly.
“You should’ve cared enough to ask.”
One of the soldiers loaded my suitcase into the SUV.
I climbed inside without another word.
And as the convoy pulled away, I watched my family shrink in the side mirror.
Nobody ran after me.
Nobody apologized.
Good.
