Chapter 1: The First Domino Falls
Chapter 1: The First Domino Falls
The black SUV sped through the empty streets, leaving the mansion—and four years of humiliation—behind.
Mariana sat silently, her bruised cheek reflecting faintly in the window. She never touched it again.
Pain could heal.
Betrayal had a longer memory.
When the vehicle stopped in front of Escalante Global Headquarters, every light in the fifty-story tower was already on.
Executives lined both sides of the entrance.
The moment Mariana stepped out, they bowed.
"Welcome back, Chairwoman."
She nodded once.
Inside the executive boardroom, her father, Alejandro Escalante, stood beside the massive conference table.
His eyes immediately landed on the red mark across her face.
The room grew cold.
"Who did this?" he asked quietly.
Mariana answered without emotion.
"My husband."
No one spoke.
Alejandro slowly closed the file in front of him.
"Then Andrew Sullivan has made the worst mistake of his life."
Within minutes, the legal department began issuing orders.
Every investment fund owned by Escalante Capital froze its financing.
Every line of credit supporting Sullivan Holdings was suspended.
Three international banks received formal notices.
The emergency clauses Mariana herself had written years ago were finally activated.
Her father looked at her.
"Are you certain?"
She smiled faintly.
"They wanted me to leave with nothing."
"So let them discover what nothing really looks like."
Across town...
Andrew poured himself a glass of expensive whiskey.
Brenda curled up beside him on the sofa.
"See?" she laughed.
"I told you she'd crawl back."
Margaret admired herself in the mirror.
"She'll beg before tomorrow."
Then Andrew's phone rang.
One call.
Then another.
Then ten.
His chief financial officer sounded terrified.
"Sir..."
"Our accounts are frozen."
Andrew frowned.
"What?"
"The banks won't release payroll."
"Our investors are demanding emergency meetings."
"Our stock has fallen twelve percent in after-hours trading."
Andrew stood.
"What are you talking about?"
Before the CFO could answer...
Another notification appeared.
Board Emergency Meeting.
Mandatory Attendance.
6:00 A.M.
Andrew's confidence cracked for the first time.
Brenda noticed.
"Baby..."
"It's probably temporary."
He wanted to believe her.
But deep inside...
A single sentence echoed in his mind.
"They exist because of me."
May you like
For the first time...
Andrew wasn't laughing anymore.
