Chapter 32: Stepping Down
Drake Hawthorne stood in his office at the top of Hawthorne Industries Tower, gazing out at the city that had once felt like his kingdom. The sprawling skyline stretched into the distance, a glittering testament to the empire his family had built and that he had fought so hard to control. This view had always reminded him of his power, of the legacy he was meant to uphold. But now, as he stared at the vastness of New York, the weight of that legacy pressed down on him like a vice. What once gave him purpose now suffocated him.
The events of the past weeks had unraveled him in ways he hadn't anticipated. His company, once an unshakable force, was faltering. Mila Morgan's calculated moves had exposed his weaknesses, both in business and in himself. Every decision he had made recently had backfired, leaving his reputation in tatters. But it wasn't just the corporate warfare that had shaken him. His growing feelings for Mila—the woman he had once viewed as nothing more than an adversary—had turned his world upside down.
For hours, he had sat alone in his office, contemplating what needed to be done. He thought about his father, Jonathan, whose demands had become unbearable, whose legacy Drake had tried so hard to live up to. He thought about the lies, the betrayals, the ruthless games they had both played to maintain power. But most of all, he thought about Mila—the woman who had bested him, challenged him, and ultimately changed him.
And now, after everything, he had reached a decision. One that would shake the very foundation of his life, his company, and everything he had worked for. He was going to step down as CEO of Hawthorne Industries.
It wasn't just a business move. It was a sacrifice—a gesture meant to show Mila that he was willing to risk everything to prove his sincerity. He knew that as long as he remained in his position of power, she would never fully trust him. Not after everything they had been through, not after the corporate warfare, the betrayal, and the lies.
He picked up the phone and called Harry Knight, his closest friend and the man who had stood by his side through every rise and fall. Moments later, Harry entered the office, his expression a mixture of curiosity and concern.
"You wanted to see me?" Harry asked, taking a seat across from Drake's desk.
Drake leaned back in his chair, the weight of the decision heavy on his shoulders, but his mind was clear for the first time in weeks. "Yeah, I need to tell you something. I've made a decision."
The tension in the room thickened as Harry studied him. "What decision?"
Drake exhaled, bracing himself for the reaction he knew was coming. "I'm stepping down as CEO."
The words hung in the air like a bomb waiting to detonate. Harry's eyes widened in disbelief, the shock on his face immediate and unmistakable.
"You're stepping down?" Harry's voice was sharp with incredulity. "Drake, you can't be serious. If you leave Hawthorne Industries, your father will take over, and you'll lose everything. And for what? To prove something to Mila?"
Drake didn't flinch. He had expected this reaction. In many ways, he had spent the last few hours arguing the same points with himself. But this decision wasn't just about Mila. It was about himself—about reclaiming his life from the crushing expectations of his father and the toxic world of corporate dominance he had been entrenched in since he was old enough to understand power.
"It's not just about her," Drake said, his voice calm but resolute. "It's about me. I'm tired, Harry. I've spent my whole life playing this game—trying to live up to my father's expectations, trying to control everything, everyone. But it's cost me too much."
Harry stood up, pacing the length of the office, disbelief etched in every movement. "You're Hawthorne Industries, Drake. You can't just walk away from that. Do you have any idea what this will do? The board will riot. Your father—"
Drake cut him off, his voice harder now. "I know exactly what it'll do. But I'm not walking away from everything. I'm stepping down because I need to—because this life, this company, can't be everything to me anymore. I can't keep fighting for something that's destroying me."
Harry's pacing slowed, and he turned to face Drake, searching his expression for something—an opening, a way to change his mind. "You're risking everything you've worked for. Your father—he won't let this slide. If you step down, he'll take over, and you know he'll use that to push you out for good."
Drake's jaw tightened, but his resolve didn't waver. "Let him. I'm not interested in his legacy anymore."
Harry stared at him for a long moment, trying to process what was happening. The Drake Hawthorne he knew had always been relentless, always focused on winning, on maintaining power at any cost. This decision—to step away from the throne—was unlike anything Harry had ever expected from him.
"Is this really about Mila?" Harry asked finally, his voice quieter, softer.
Drake didn't hesitate. "Yeah. It is. But it's also about me. I'm not doing this because she asked me to. I'm doing it because... I can't keep being this person. I can't keep doing what my father expects, what the board expects. I need to live on my own terms."
The admission hung heavy in the room. For the first time, Harry saw the depth of Drake's struggle—the weight of the expectations that had been crushing him for years. And for the first time, he saw something else in Drake's eyes. Something raw, vulnerable, and real.
"You really love her, don't you?" Harry said, more as a statement than a question.
Drake didn't flinch. "Yeah. I do."
Harry sighed, running a hand through his hair. "This is going to cause chaos, you know that, right?"
Drake nodded, his eyes distant but steady. "I know. But for the first time in my life, I'm okay with that."
The two men stood in silence, the weight of Drake's decision settling between them. Harry had been by Drake's side for years, through every cutthroat deal, every hostile takeover, every calculated move. He knew how much the Hawthorne name meant to Drake, how deeply the need to prove himself to Jonathan had run. But now, looking at Drake, he realized that something had shifted.
This wasn't about winning anymore. It wasn't about power, legacy, or control. It was about freedom.
As Harry turned to leave, he paused at the door, looking back at Drake one last time. "I hope you know what you're doing."
Drake smiled faintly, though there was a sadness in his eyes. "For the first time, I think I do."
Harry nodded, and without another word, he left the office, leaving Drake alone in the silence once more.
But this time, the silence didn't feel suffocating. It felt like the beginning of something new. Something real. Drake Hawthorne wasn't walking away from his legacy—he was reclaiming his life.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone