“I’ve spent tonight talking to your board of directors, Liam,” Julian said from the stage, calm and lethal.

“They’ve already voted to strip you of your CEO title, effective immediately. Your Blue Lantern files have been delivered to the Department of Justice. By morning, you won’t be worried about your stock price. You’ll be worried about your legal representation.”

Liam collapsed — not just sitting, but crumpling to the floor, his head in his hands.

Beatrice stood over him, looking not at her son but at the exit, her social life flashing before her eyes like a dying star.

Chapter 6 — Severance

I walked toward him, the crowd parting like the Red Sea, and stood over the man who had tried to break my daughter’s spirit.

“You told Clara I should sell my shop for fifty thousand dollars and go live in a retirement home,” I reminded him softly. “You said I was a burden to your prestigious name.”