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🚨 THE MAYBACH BETRAYAL: FROM PAVEMENT TO EMPIRE 🚨 / Chapter 4 / 8

Chapter 4 - THE WILL AND THE WEAPON

The police escorted Julian out of the building in handcuffs, surrounded by a frenzy of flashing camera bulbs from news reporters gathered on the street below. But as Arthur stood at his office window watching the police cruiser pull away, he knew the war was far from over.

That evening, Arthur sat with his chief legal counsel, Richard Vance (no relation), inside the estate's library. Toby was fast asleep on the leather sofa, exhausted from the day's chaos.

"Victoria’s lawyers are filing for an immediate division of assets," Richard explained, sliding a paper across the desk. "Under your prenuptial agreement, if you are deemed incapable of managing the estate due to criminal negligence or scandal, she is entitled to forty percent of Vance International’s voting shares."

"She was locked in a room while her co-conspirator was arrested," Arthur said, his eyes dangerous. "She gets nothing."

"Legally, Julian hasn't confessed to her direct involvement yet," Richard warned. "He's taking the fall alone so far. Victoria is playing the victim. She's claiming Julian manipulated her and that you are framing her to keep her away from your fortune. The media is buying her 'grieving, abused wife' routine."

"Then we tear her routine apart," Arthur growled. "Where is she now?"

"Her lawyers posted bail an hour ago. She’s currently staying at the Grand Regency Hotel."

Before Arthur could reply, the library doors flew open. A servant ran in, panting, face red with panic.

"Sir! It's the security gate!"

Arthur stood up immediately. "What happened?"

"A truck... it just rammed straight through the iron gates! Men with guns are on the lawn!"

Sirens began to blare across the estate. Red emergency lights flashed against the glass windows.

Arthur didn't hesitate. He rushed to the couch, scooped up the sleeping Toby into his arms, and pulled open a hidden panel behind the mahogany bookshelf—a panic room built during the Cold War.

"Stay in here, Toby. Do not open this door for anyone except me. Do you hear me?" Arthur ordered, his voice dead serious.

"Dad, don't leave me!" Toby cried out, reaching for him. It was the first time the boy had called him 'Dad.'

Arthur’s heart swelled, but he forced a firm smile. "I'm not going anywhere, son. I built this empire. Nobody takes it from us."

Arthur slammed the heavy iron door shut and locked it from the outside.

He pulled a heavy revolver from his desk drawer, locked the slide, and stepped out into the hallway. Glass shattered down the corridor as heavy footsteps echoed through the grand foyer.

Through the smoke of a tear-gas canister thrown into the lobby, a figure emerged. It wasn't Julian. It wasn't Victoria's lawyers.

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