Chapter 2 - THE RECKONING AT DAWN
At 6:00 AM, Grant woke up in his master suite, feeling an intoxicating sense of relief. He had finally rid himself of the quiet, boring wife who had brought nothing to his prestigious name. Victoria was already downstairs, instructing the house staff to pack up every single item Evelyn had left behind and burn them in the backyard incinerator.
“Good morning, darling,” Victoria purred, sipping her freshly brewed espresso. “I’ve already contacted the family lawyer. We will file for full custody of those boys on the grounds of maternal abandonment and poverty. She doesn’t have a dime to fight us.”
“Good,” Grant said, pulling out his phone to check his corporate trading portfolio. “I’m presenting the merger proposal to Vance Global today. If they approve the $500 million infusion, our company will be unstoppable.”
Suddenly, his phone screen flashed bright red. A notification popped up from his private wealth management bank: ACCOUNT SUSPENDED.
Grant frowned. He tapped the app again. Another alert appeared: CREDIT LIMIT REVOKED. PENDING IMMEDIATE AUDIT.
Before he could process it, Victoria’s phone rang. She answered, but within seconds, her face drained of all color. The porcelain cup slipped from her fingers, smashing against the Italian marble floor.
“What happened, Mother?” Grant asked, a sudden knot forming in his stomach.
“The... the foundation,” Victoria stammered, her voice shaking violently. “The bank just froze all funds. They said the primary guarantor of the foundation’s trust has revoked authorization. They’re locking the accounts pending an investigation into illegal fund diversions!”
“That’s impossible!” Grant yelled, grabbing his jacket. “I’m calling the bank manager right now!”
He pressed speed dial, but before the call connected, his phone erupted with notifications.
Corporate Account Alert: Sterling-Vale Logistics line of credit frozen.
Property Warning: Eviction notice issued for 100 Greenwich Lane.
HR Update: Emergency Board Meeting called by Vance Global Holdings.
Grant stared at his phone in horror. The mansion doors suddenly burst open. Four men in dark charcoal suits walked in, led by a stern woman holding a stack of legal documents.
“Grant Vale? Victoria Vale?” the woman announced loudly. “I am the court-appointed receiver for Vance Capital Trust. This property is owned entirely by the Vance Family Revocable Trust. As of 5:00 AM today, your lease has been terminated due to breach of conduct and non-payment. You have thirty minutes to collect your personal clothing and vacate the premises.”
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Victoria gasped, holding her diamond necklace. “Are you insane?! My family built this house! My son is a Vale!”
The receiver gave a cold, pitying smile. “Madam, your son didn’t build anything. You’ve been living in a house owned by the woman you threw out into the snow last night.”
