PART 2: FIVE MINUTES AFTER MY FATHER ARRIVED, HIS EMPIRE STARTED FALLING

Julian couldn’t move.

My father walked toward him without raising his voice.

“Do you know how many companies your family owns because of my investments?”

Julian swallowed.

“What are you talking about?”

My father held up his phone.

“I’m talking about every loan, every partnership, every property, and every account your family built using my money.”

Selene’s smile vanished.

Julian stared at him.

“You wouldn’t.”

“I already did.”

My father’s lawyer stepped forward.

“Three minutes ago, every outstanding agreement connected to the Hawthorne Group was terminated.”

Julian’s phone began ringing.

Once.

Twice.

Then continuously.

He answered the first call.

His expression changed.

“What do you mean the bank froze the account?”

Another call came in.

Then another.

His business partners were demanding explanations.

His attorneys were calling.

His board members were calling.

And finally, his own brother called.

“Julian… what did you do?”

Julian looked at me.

His anger was gone.

Only fear remained.

Selene suddenly stood.

“This is insane! You can’t destroy everything because of her!”

My father looked at her.

“Everything?”

He smiled coldly.

“No.”

He placed another folder on the table.

“I’m only removing what never belonged to him in the first place.”

Julian opened it.

Inside were financial records.

Evidence of fraud.

Hidden accounts.

Forged signatures.

And payments made to keep certain people silent.

Julian’s hands began shaking.

“Where did you get these?”

I finally spoke.

“While you were busy breaking me…”

I slowly stood.

“…my father was busy protecting me.”

Selene looked at Julian.

“You said she had nothing!”

Julian didn’t answer.

Then the mansion’s television suddenly switched on.

A breaking-news alert appeared across the screen.

HAWTHORNE EMPIRE FACES MAJOR FINANCIAL COLLAPSE AS INVESTIGATION BEGINS.

Julian stared at the headline.

His entire world was disappearing in real time.

He looked at me one last time.

“Please.”

I remembered every strike.

Every laugh.

Every moment he watched me suffer.

Then I looked at the man who had ordered it.

“You wanted me broken, Julian.”

I stepped past him.

“But you forgot one thing.”

I paused at the door.

“I was never alone.”