Chapter 3 – The Fall of a Kingdom
Three weeks later, the courthouse steps were crowded with reporters.
Andrew's company had officially filed for bankruptcy protection.
Shareholders had sued him for fraud.
Several executives admitted he had falsified earnings while secretly depending on financial support from Escalante Global.
The board voted unanimously to remove him as CEO.
Outside the courtroom, microphones surrounded me.
"Mrs. Escalante!"
"Did you plan this revenge?"
I shook my head.
"No."
"I planned survival."
A reporter asked,
"Did you ever love Andrew?"
I smiled sadly.
"I loved the man he pretended to be."
Andrew suddenly pushed through the crowd.
His expensive suit was gone.
His eyes were bloodshot.
"Mariana..."
His voice cracked.
"I'm sorry."
"I made a mistake."
"You have to believe me."
I looked at him for a long moment.
Then quietly asked,
"When you slapped me..."
"When you told me to kneel..."
"When you laughed while they called me worthless..."
"Which part was the mistake?"
Andrew couldn't answer.
Because there wasn't one.
Every decision had been intentional.
He simply never imagined there would be consequences.
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Security escorted him away as cameras continued recording.
His public apology became the final image broadcast across every major news network that evening.
