Samuel cut him off.
“Don’t blame the boy. Freedom is a powerful motivator.”
Caleb’s gaze hardened.
“You promised him freedom.”
Samuel shrugged.
“Of course I did.”
Then his smile widened.
“I never promised I’d keep that promise.”
Tommy’s heart dropped into his stomach.
“What?”
Samuel ignored him.
“Bind him,” he ordered his men.
Several guards stepped forward.
But before they could reach Caleb—
A voice rang out across the field.
“Stop!”
Everyone turned.
Isabella Howard stood at the edge of the clearing.
Her dress whipped in the wind.
Beside her stood Mia.
Samuel’s smile vanished.
“What are you doing here?”
Isabella walked forward, placing herself directly in front of Caleb.
“You’re not touching him.”
Samuel laughed bitterly.
“Isabella, step aside.”
“No.”
Samuel’s patience snapped.
“You have no idea what you’re interfering with.”
“Actually,” Isabella said coldly, “I know exactly what you’re doing.”
Samuel’s eyes darkened.
“Do you?”
“Yes.”
She gestured toward the surrounding men.
“You’ve been trying to destroy Caleb from the beginning.”
Samuel exhaled slowly.
Then something in him broke.
The careful mask he wore shattered.
“Fine,” he said.
“If you want the truth…”
His voice turned venomous.
“My father has been working with the French for years.”
Everyone froze.
“The British control this colony,” Samuel continued calmly.
“But that won’t last.”
He gestured toward the workers’ cabins in the distance.
“The colony is weak. Divided. Angry.”
His smile turned cruel.
“So we help it collapse.”
Isabella’s blood ran cold.
“You’re trying to start a war.”
Samuel bowed mockingly.
“Exactly.”
Caleb stared at him.
“And framing me?”
Samuel laughed.
“Men like you unite the lower classes. If people start believing someone like you can lead them…”
He shrugged.
“That’s dangerous.”
Then his eyes flicked toward the manor in the distance.
“Arthur Howard understood that.”
Isabella’s heart stopped.
“My father?”
Samuel grinned.
“Of course. He helped finance everything.”
The ground seemed to disappear beneath Isabella’s feet.
Caleb’s jaw clenched.
“You’re lying.”
Samuel shrugged.
“Am I?”
Behind them—
Tommy suddenly spoke.
“You… you said Caleb was planning rebellion.”
Samuel smirked.
“And you believed me.”
Tommy stared at him in horror.
“You lied.”
Samuel rolled his eyes.
“Obviously.”
Tommy’s face went white.
Then slowly—
He stepped beside Caleb.
“I’m sorry.”
Caleb said nothing.
Samuel groaned.
“Oh please. Don’t tell me the boy suddenly grew a conscience.”
Tommy clenched his fists.
“I won’t help you anymore.”
Samuel sighed.
“Pity.”
Then he pulled out a pistol.
And aimed it at Caleb.
“Well,” he said calmly.
“I suppose we’ll do this the simple way.”
The gunshot exploded across the field.
But Caleb didn’t fall.
Because someone had stepped in front of him.
Mia.
The bullet struck her shoulder.
She collapsed into Caleb’s arms.
Blood spreading across her dress.
“Mia!” Isabella screamed.
Caleb caught her before she hit the ground.
His heart pounded with fury.
“You idiot,” he muttered hoarsely.
Mia smiled weakly.
“Guess… this makes us even.”
In the distance—
Voices erupted.
Shouts.
Boots pounding.
British soldiers poured into the field.
Behind them came dozens of townspeople.
Samuel’s face drained of color.
“What—”
Isabella stood tall.
“I sent word to Williamsburg hours ago.”
The soldiers surrounded Samuel instantly.
“Drop your weapon!”
Samuel looked around wildly.
Then slowly—
He lowered the gun.
Two soldiers grabbed him.
“You’re under arrest for treason against the Crown.”
Samuel laughed bitterly.
“Traitors?” he spat.
“You fools have no idea what’s coming.”
Nearby, another group of soldiers dragged Arthur Howard from a carriage.
The former nobleman looked pale and defeated.
The officer turned to Isabella.
“Miss Howard, we’ve heard everything.”
Arthur stared at his daughter.
“You did this.”
Isabella’s voice was steady.
“You destroyed too many lives.”
Arthur said nothing as the soldiers bound his hands.
The powerful man who once ruled the estate now stood as a prisoner.
And the entire colony was watching.
Meanwhile, Caleb held Mia tightly as blood soaked his shirt.
“You’re not dying,” he said firmly.
Mia laughed weakly.
“Bossy as always.”
Caleb looked up at Isabella.
Their eyes met.
And in that moment—
Both of them knew.
Nothing in their lives would ever be the same again.