Chapter 3: The Cold War of Wealth
The news didn't break overnight. Julian was too smart for that. He knew that if he went public immediately, Seraphina’s powerful family would tie him up in litigation for a decade. He played it cool.
He moved Elena to a private, high-security facility to recover, hiring the best doctors in the city. He kept his home life appearing normal, even as he systematically dismantled Seraphina’s assets.
Seraphina, arrogant and convinced of her own superiority, thought she had successfully gaslit him. She continued her charity galas, unaware that Julian had frozen every credit card she owned and redirected her secret accounts to an escrow fund that would be evidence in court.
One evening, at a black-tie gala, Seraphina approached Julian, gripping his arm with a forced smile. "The house feels empty without the maid, Julian. Don't you think it's time to put all this 'misunderstanding' behind us?"
Julian took a sip of his champagne, looking at her as if she were a stranger. "You’re right, Seraphina. The house is empty. But it won't be for long. I have a surprise for you at dinner tonight."
"A surprise?" she preened, thinking he was going to buy her off.
"A revelation," he corrected.
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As they walked into the dining hall, Julian signaled the AV tech. The giant projector screens that were supposed to show a tribute to the foundation suddenly flickered to life. Instead of charity work, the screen displayed a digital scan of the documents from the closet—the secret child, the illegal payments, and finally, the video of her beating Elena.
The room erupted in whispers. Seraphina turned, her eyes widening as her entire life was projected for the city's elite to see.
