Chapter 4 — The Price of Arrogance
Marcus spent the next several days calling investors.
Banks.
Friends.
Politicians.
Nobody answered.
News spread quickly through the business world.
The charismatic hotel visionary had never been the owner.
He had merely been the public face chosen by the real controlling family.
Then came the lawsuits.
Unauthorized use of corporate funds.
Executive misconduct.
Violation of company ethics.
Improper relationships with subordinate employees.
Vanessa disappeared before the week ended.
The sapphire brooch was anonymously delivered back to Ashcroft headquarters.
Without a note.
Without an apology.
Marcus sat alone inside his penthouse.
Luxury surrounded him.
Silence consumed him.
For the first time in years, he opened the photo album Isabella had assembled during their marriage.
Every hotel groundbreaking.
Every ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Every charity gala.
In every photograph...
She stood just outside the spotlight.
Smiling.
Supporting him.
Never asking for credit.
Only then did Marcus realize the truth.
He had mistaken quiet strength for dependence.
And loyalty for weakness.
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By the time he understood...
There was nothing left to save.
