Chapter 2: The Unraveling of the Elite
Victoria snatched the phone, her hands trembling so violently that the device clattered against her heavy gold bracelets. "Chairman Carter! There has been a—a misunderstanding! This girl—"
"If a single hair on her head has been harmed," the Chairman cut her off, his voice devoid of all warmth, "I will dismantle the Hayes family holdings by sunrise. Every contract, every loan, every partnership you have with my subsidiaries is effectively terminated as of this second."
The connection clicked dead.
Victoria stood in the center of the ballroom, clutching a dead phone. She looked around, expecting her usual chorus of sycophants to come to her defense. But they were gone. Or rather, they were busy retreating. They were already moving toward the exits, whispering furiously into their own phones, canceling meetings, and deleting their association with the Hayes name.
Ethan finally moved, stepping toward Emma. "Emma, I—I didn't know. Why didn't you tell me? I would have protected you from her."
Emma stepped back, out of his reach. The cold water soaking her gown felt like a baptism. "You wouldn't have protected me, Ethan. You would have just stayed quiet, hoping your mother would eventually 'accept' me. You were never choosing me. You were just hoping I’d make myself small enough to fit into your mother’s life."
She turned her back on him, not because she was hurt, but because she was done.
May you like
"Richard," Emma said, addressing the man who had recognized her father’s photo. "I believe you were looking to expand your logistics chain into the Carter sectors?"
Richard Bennett, who had been a shark his entire life, bowed his head—a gesture of genuine respect. "I am, Ms. Carter. I would be honored to discuss that with you, at your convenience."
