"YOU CALLED ME TRASH IN FRONT OF THE SERVANTS, SO MY BILLIONAIRE FATHER ERASED YOUR ENTIRE LIFE BEFORE SUNRISE"

By Monday morning, the global financial markets opened to absolute bloodshed—for Thorne Capital.

News of Victor Thorne’s arrest and the exposure of his illegal shorting operation triggered a catastrophic run on his firm's remaining assets. In less than forty-five minutes of market trading, Thorne Capital lost 95% of its total market capitalization.

Inside the glass war room of Vance International’s Geneva branch, I sat surrounded by forty quantitative analysts.

"Vice-Chairwoman," our head of global trading reported, his eyes glued to the real-time financial monitors. "Thorne Capital’s prime broker is liquidating their remaining assets at distress prices. They are selling off their European port infrastructure and tech patents for pennies on the dollar."

"Execute Operation Phoenix," I commanded without hesitation.

With the click of a button, Vance International’s automated trading algorithm—Elysium 2.0, the software I had spent three years perfecting while Julian thought I was merely doing housework—bought up every single asset Thorne Capital was forced to sell.

We didn't just survive Thorne’s attack. We absorbed his entire life's work for less than 10% of its actual value.

By 11:00 AM, Thorne Capital ceased to exist. It was rebranded as Vance European Logistics.

My father walked into the war room, carrying two glasses of sparkling water. He handed one to me, looking at the massive screen that showed Vance International's stock price soaring to an all-time high.