Chapter 1: The Empire Begins to Collapse
The ballroom remained silent after Emma ended the call.
"Dad... exactly as you instructed... destroy his life."
Adrian forced a laugh, though it sounded hollow.
"You're bluffing."
Emma didn't answer.
She simply lowered the phone and looked at him with a calmness he had never seen before.
Vanessa rolled her eyes and took another sip of champagne.
"She's trying to scare us."
Then every light inside the mansion flickered.
A sharp electronic beep echoed through the ceiling.
Adrian frowned.
His phone vibrated.
Then again.
And again.
Within seconds it was ringing nonstop.
His chief financial officer.
His attorney.
The bank manager.
The chairman of the board.
His hands suddenly felt cold.
He answered the first call.
"What?"
The color drained from his face.
"What do you mean every corporate account has been frozen?"
Another call interrupted.
"Our investors are pulling out."
Another.
"The Financial Crimes Division has arrived."
Another.
"The media is outside headquarters."
Adrian slowly lowered the phone.
His confident smile disappeared.
Emma quietly touched the diamond pendant around her neck.
"You should answer the next one," she said softly.
"It'll be the warrant."
Exactly five minutes after her phone call...
Adrian's knees gave out.
He crashed onto the marble floor.
May you like
For the first time in years...
He realized he had just declared war against the wrong family.
