Bzzz. Bzzz.

Within seconds, a synchronized wave of alerts rippled across the entire table. Every executive, every partner, every family member felt their phone light up at once.

Marcus paused, glass still raised, brow furrowing as his speech drowned under the wall of electronic sound. “Uh — please, let’s keep the devices away for the toast—”

“My God,” the Managing Director whispered, his face draining to ashen white as he stared at his screen.

Final Chapter — The Collapse

The silence that swept the room was absolute.

No one was looking at Marcus anymore. Twenty pairs of eyes were locked on their screens, scrolling through the financial ledgers, the wire transfers, and the home-security footage now playing in high definition across twenty separate devices.