Chapter 4 - Shattered Glass
The dining room exploded. Arthur Vance lunged forward, grabbing Julian by the lapels and shoving him against the limestone wall. "You son of a bitch!" Arthur roared. "You ruined my life! I’ll kill you!"
Plates rattled, wine spilled like blood, and the high-society dinner party devolved into a chaotic brawl. Julian didn't fight back. He slumped against the wall, hollowed out. The empire he had built on lies had been dismantled in ten minutes.
The federal agent separated Arthur from Julian, snapping the handcuffs onto Julian’s wrists with a sharp click.
"Keep your hands off me! Do you know who I am?" Julian shrieked, reverting to the pathetic reflex of an entitled man facing consequences for the first time. "I demand a lawyer! Elena, tell them this is a joke!"
Elena didn't blink. She picked up her diamond engagement ring from the table and slipped it onto her finger—not her ring finger, but her middle finger, a permanent sign of a chapter closed. She turned to the terrified guests.
"Gentlemen," Elena said, her voice cutting through the noise. "If you wish to recover even a fraction of the capital Julian stole from you, I suggest you sit down, shut your mouths, and direct your legal team to my firm tomorrow morning."
Arthur stared at her, the man who once sneered at her now looking at her with primal fear. "Your... your firm?"
"Sterling Global Logistics is currently under federal receivership," Elena replied, adjusting her silk blouse. "Effective five minutes ago, my holding company purchased controlling debt interest across all of Julian’s assets for one dollar. As of right now, I am your primary creditor."
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Julian let out a low sob as the agent hauled him toward the doors. As they reached the threshold, Julian twisted his head around, his eyes filled with hatred. "You planned this. From the beginning... you married me just to destroy me."
Elena met his gaze, a cold, faint smile touching her lips. "No, Julian," she whispered. "I married you to give you enough rope. You were the one who tied the knot."
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