CHAPTER 5: THE WRATH OF THE TRUE KING
The grand hall of the Barrett mansion felt like a tomb. Julian remained on his knees, his hands resting on the cold marble, staring at Arthur Vance.
"Mr. Vance... there must be a mistake," Victoria stammered, her aristocratic poise completely shattering. Her voice cracked into a high-pitched, desperate whine. "Evelyn... she came to us as an orphan. She had no family registry. She lied to us!"
Arthur Vance slowly turned his head toward Victoria. The look in his eyes was so predatory, so devoid of human mercy, that Victoria instinctively took two steps back, tripping over her own velvet gown.
"My daughter changed her name and cut herself off from my wealth because she wanted to find a man who loved her for her, not for my billions," Arthur’s voice resonated like a death knell. "And I let her, because I trusted that the world had some decency left. But you... you treated my flesh and blood like an animal."
Arthur turned to his head bodyguard, a scarred man named Marcus. "Call the private medical transport. Now. If anything happens to my grandson, I want this city burned to the ground."
"Yes, Mr. Vance," Marcus replied, already speaking into a satellite phone.
Two of the guards gently lifted Evelyn onto a soft, portable stretcher they had brought from the SUV. Evelyn clutched her father’s hand, her face pale. "Daddy... the baby... it hurts..."
"I know, baby. I'm here. The best doctors in the country are waiting for you," Arthur murmured, his voice cracking with emotion as he kissed her bruised forehead.
As they began to wheel Evelyn out, Arthur stopped at the threshold. He didn't look back at Julian or Victoria, but his words filled the room like a curse.
"Julian Barrett. By 9:00 AM tomorrow, Barrett Enterprises will no longer exist. Every loan your company holds is owned by Vance Financial. I am calling them in tonight. Every contract you have signed with the city is canceled. And as for you and your mother... prepare your lawyers. Because I am going to use every legal and illegal avenue I possess to make sure you rot in a cage."
The heavy doors closed behind them.
Julian collapsed entirely, his forehead touching the floor. Within ten minutes, his personal phone began to ring frantically. It was his Chief Financial Officer.
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"Julian! Where the hell are you?!" the CFO screamed through the speaker. "The Vance Group just dumped all of our stock! Our investors are pulling out in a panic! The bank just frozen our corporate accounts! We are bleeding hundreds of millions of dollars a minute! Julian, we’re ruined!"
Julian didn't answer. He looked up at his mother. Victoria was sitting on the stairs, staring blankly at the wall, her hands shaking so violently she couldn't even adjust her diamond bracelet. The golden cage they had built to imprison Evelyn had just collapsed, crushing them inside.
