Chapter 6 - The Fall of the MaskThe master suite smelled of expensive perfume and crushed hopes.
Claire sat on the edge of the king-sized velvet bed, wearing a silk robe, her hair slightly disheveled. The glamorous, untouchable socialite who had commanded rooms of politicians and CEOs was entirely gone, replaced by a desperate, cornered animal.
The heavy oak door unlocked with a sharp click.
Nathan walked into the room alone, closing the door behind him.
Claire looked up, her eyes flashing with a desperate mix of fury and pathetic pleading.
“Nathan,” she breathed, standing up and taking a step toward him. “Please. You can’t do this. We were a team. We built things together—”
“You built a parasite’s nest,” Nathan said, stopping a few feet away. He tossed a manila envelope onto the bed. It slid across the silk duvet, stopping right at her feet.
Claire looked down at it, her breath catching in her throat.
“Federal embezzlement charges,” Nathan said quietly. “Coupled with witness intimidation, extortion, and harassment of a minor. Your lawyer just left. He didn't even try to negotiate a settlement once he saw the wire logs.”
Claire’s knees buckled. She dropped back onto the edge of the bed, her hands clutching the fabric of her robe.
“You’re destroying me,” she whispered, tears finally spilling over her mascara-darkened eyelashes. “Over a cleaning lady? Over an old woman who barely remembers her own name, and some brat who wandered into the wrong hallway?”
Nathan’s jaw tightened so hard a muscle twitched in his cheek.
“My mother built this family with honesty and calloused hands long before you ever learned how to wear a designer dress and smile for the cameras,” Nathan said, his voice dropping into a lethal whisper. “You thought poverty was a weakness. You thought kindness was stupidity. You were so busy looking down on everyone else that you never realized you were standing on glass.”
A heavy knock sounded at the door.
Marcus poked his head into the room.
“Federal marshals are downstairs, sir. They’re ready.”
Nathan didn't look back as he turned toward the door.
“Take her out.”
“Nathan! Nathan, you can’t do this to me! You’ll pay for this! Hear me? You’ll pay!” Claire screamed, lunging forward before two female federal agents stepped into the room, their hands gripping her arms with professional, unyielding force.
As they dragged her past the full-length mirror near the dressing room, Claire caught a glimpse of herself—hair messy, mascara running down her cheeks, stripped of every diamond, silk, and illusion of perfection.
May you like
The door slammed shut.
The master suite was finally empty.
