Chapter 3 - The Broken Engagement
By midnight, the fallout from the Royal Diamond Ballroom incident had devoured the business world.
Julian sat on the curb of a dirty alleyway three blocks from the hotel. The night air was biting cold. His torn tuxedo offered no warmth. His phone was almost dead, showing 142 missed calls from investors, board members, and angry creditors demanding immediate repayment.
A black limousine pulled up to the alley curb, its headlights piercing through the dark.
Julian’s eyes lit up with desperate hope. He scrambled to his feet. “Chloe! You came back—”
The limousine door opened, but it wasn't Chloe who stepped out. It was her father, Richard Montgomery, accompanied by two large men in dark suits. Richard’s face was twisted in pure rage.
Before Julian could utter another word, Richard’s fist connected sharply with Julian’s jaw, sending him crashing into a pile of wet cardboard boxes.
“You ruined us!” Richard roared, his voice hoarse from screaming. “Montgomery Logistics is being liquidated! My life's work... gone in six hours! All because you couldn't keep your hands to yourself!”
“Father-in-law, please!” Julian coughed, clutching his bleeding cheek. “We can fix this! We can go back to Sterling! We can beg him together!”
“Father-in-law?” Richard spat on the ground near Julian’s feet. He motioned to his men, who stepped forward holding a stack of legal documents.
Chloe stepped out from the front passenger seat of the limo. She was no longer wearing her wedding gown. She wore a black coat, her eyes cold, red-rimmed, and filled with deep hatred.
“There is no marriage, Julian,” Chloe said, her voice dripping with venom. “The wedding was never finalized. I’ve signed an emergency annulment and an injunction. My family is severing every tie with you.”
“Chloe! You love me!” Julian cried out, reaching toward her. “We were going to build an empire!”
“You are a parasite!” she screamed back, her composure shattering. “You dragged me down with you! The bank took our house, my father’s yacht, everything! You’re nothing but a poor, pathetic street thug disguised in a suit!”
Richard tossed a thick envelope onto Julian’s lap. “That’s a formal lawsuit for five hundred million dollars for total commercial damages caused by your reckless assault. If you ever come near my daughter again, I won't just sue you—I'll have you put under the dirt.”
They climbed back into the limousine, leaving Julian completely alone in the damp alley. The red taillights faded into the foggy night.
Julian curled up on the wet pavement, weeping bitterly. Everything he had spent ten years lying, manipulating, and stepping on people to build had vanished in less than a day. All because of one punch. One old man.
Suddenly, a shadow fell over Julian.
He lifted his head, wiping the tears and dirt from his bloodshot eyes. Standing at the entrance of the alley was a tall, elegant woman wearing a tailored grey suit, holding a sleek black umbrella despite the light rain.
It was Victoria—Arthur Sterling’s executive assistant.
“Mr. Vance,” she said, her voice smooth and devoid of any emotion.
Julian scrambled up, grabbing her arm frantically. “Did... did Mr. Sterling send you? Is he giving me a second chance? I’ll apologize! I’ll bow to him! I’ll sweep his floors for the rest of my life!”
Victoria calmly peeled his hand off her suit coat as if removing a disgusting bug. She pulled a black leather folder from her leather briefcase.
“Mr. Sterling does not give second chances,” Victoria replied calmly. “He sent me to deliver a message.”
She opened the folder and handed him a single sheet of paper.
“What is this?” Julian whispered, his hands trembling violently as he tried to read the text in the faint streetlight.
“That,” Victoria said with a chilling smile, “is the deed to your childhood home. Your mother’s home. Mr. Sterling purchased the mortgage two hours ago. The foreclosure notice is active. She has until 8:00 AM tomorrow to vacate the premises.”
Julian’s eyes widened in horror. “No... NO! LEAVE MY MOTHER OUT OF THIS! SHE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS!”
“You should have thought of that before you laid a hand on the Chairman,” Victoria said softly, stepping back into the shadow of her umbrella. “Oh, and one more thing, Mr. Vance. The Chairman asked me to give you this.”
She reached into her pocket and dropped a single object onto the wet pavement. It bounced off Julian’s knee and rolled into the gutter.
May you like
It was a rusted pair of pruning shears.
“He suggests you look for work in gardening,” Victoria said coldly. “Though... I doubt anyone will hire you now.”
