Chapter 18

Charlie hadn't had water for who knew how long. His voice was hoarse to the point of breaking as he muttered, "Selene's not dead. I dreamed of her last night. "We were so happy together. As long as I fix the ring, she'll forgive me." His idea of fixing it involved using his flesh and blood to make up for his mistakes. His arm was already a bloody mess of overlapping cuts, torn flesh, and dried blood. Eric and Natalie knew that if this continued much longer, Charlie would be left with a grim fate. They no longer concerned themselves with preserving the Grant Corporation image or protecting the stock price. Unwilling to be the ones to bury their child, they had him committed to a rehabilitation facility. The news spread quickly through their social circles, and fueled by the long-circulated rumors within the company, panic soon took hold. Internal power struggles erupted among the division heads, and the stock price plummeted. The once mighty conglomerate fractured into competing f