Chapter 1: The Collapse
Nobody spoke.
Nobody moved.
The words "Good evening, Chairwoman Cassidy" hung in the air like a verdict.
Brendan stared at me.
Then laughed.
A forced laugh.
A desperate laugh.
"This is a joke."
Nobody joined him.
The Director of Global Security stepped forward and handed me a tablet.
"Protocol 7 has been activated, Chairwoman."
I glanced at the screen.
Every subsidiary connected to the family trust had already been frozen.
Every executive authorization belonging to Brendan had been revoked.
Every corporate account linked to Diane's family was under review.
The process had started.
And it could not be stopped.
Diane slammed her glass onto the table.
"What nonsense is this?"
The security director looked at her.
"Ma'am, eighty-two percent of your family's assets exist because they are funded through Cassidy Global Holdings."
Silence.
"That company belongs to Chairwoman Cassidy."
Jessica's face turned white.
Brendan shook his head.
"No."
The word sounded weak.
Pathetic.
Impossible.
I finally stood.
Water still dripped from my dress.
Yet for the first time in years, nobody saw a victim.
They saw the person who controlled everything.
"You never asked where the money came from," I said.
"You only cared about spending it."
Brendan stared at me.
"You lied to me."
"No."
I smiled.
"You never considered I could be worth more than you."
At that exact moment, phones began ringing around the table.
One after another.
Directors.
Banks.
Investors.
Lawyers.
May you like
Bad news arriving all at once.
The empire they believed they owned was collapsing before dessert.
