Chapter 8: The Untouchable Illusion
Back at the St. Regis Hotel, completely oblivious to the digital apocalypse currently being unleashed upon his life, Ethan Sterling raised a flute of crystal-clear champagne that a passing waiter had nervously handed him. He clinked his glass against Chloe’s, a triumphant, arrogant grin spreading across his face as he looked down at Vivienne, who remained standing motionless at the base of the staircase. "To new beginnings, darling," Ethan purred, leaning down to press a public, exaggerated kiss against Chloe’s cheek. Chloe preened under the attention, her hand resting ostentatiously over the massive emerald necklace on her chest, letting the diamonds catch the light as if to rub salt into Vivienne’s open wounds. The couple laughed—a bright, superficial sound that felt deeply out of place in the charged atmosphere of the lobby. Ethan truly believed he was untouchable. Just that morning, he had finalized a massive corporate merger, securing his position as the primary majority shareholder of Sterling Vanguard Holdings, a firm valued at well over fifty million dollars. He lived in a sprawling, multi-million-dollar penthouse overlooking Central Park, drove custom European sports cars, and wore bespoke Italian suits that cost more than most people earned in six months. He looked at Vivienne with utter pity, convinced she was a pathetic relic of his past whom he had successfully discarded like a worn-out shoe. He took a long sip of his champagne, savoring the bubbles and the intoxicating rush of absolute power. He had no idea that the champagne he was drinking was essentially his final meal on death row. Every single asset, every bank account, every share, and every deed he owned was currently being systematically shredded, untethered, and reallocated by an algorithm controlled by Arthur Sterling. The illusion of his wealth was about to vanish into thin air.
