Chapter 1
The cold ocean wind swept across the lower deck of the luxury mega-yacht, carrying the salt spray of the Atlantic.
Marcus’s phone continued to vibrate violently against his palm, its bright screen flashing red system alerts in the dark.
Standing beside him, thirty-year-old Victoria adjusted her emerald green evening gown, her sleek dark updo remaining pristine despite the sea breeze.
Her single tear was completely dry now, replaced by an expression of sharp, predatory satisfaction.
"What's wrong, Marcus?" Victoria called up from the illuminated spiral staircase, her voice slicing through the sound of lapping waves.
"Is the bank notifying you about your declining card transactions?"
Twenty-eight-year-old Chloe gripped her gold satin gown, her smug smile fading as she looked at Marcus's pale face.
"Marcus, what is happening?" Chloe demanded, her hand dropping away from the antique ruby brooch on her chest.
"Why does your screen say account authorization revoked?"
Marcus tried to swipe his thumb across the display, but a massive black padlock icon locked the phone entirely.
"This is impossible!" Marcus bellowed, his former condescending aura shattering into raw, unadulterated panic.
"My family founded Vance Global Financial! You don't have the legal authority to freeze my personal accounts!"
Victoria took three slow, deliberate steps up the glowing spiral staircase, her emerald gown trailing behind her.
"Your family founded the firm, Marcus," Victoria stated with chilling precision.
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"But my grandfather owned seventy-five percent of the voting shares before he passed away last spring."
"And as of ten seconds ago, those shares were transferred back into my maiden trust."
