Chapter 2 - The Audit of the DynastyOn the other end of the line, the silence extended for five long, agonizing seconds before Adrian Vale answered.
"I have no idea what you are talking about, Sebastian. If that girl is contacting you again, she is seeking financial compensation—"
"She is standing beside Bethesda Fountain in Central Park, Grandfather," Sebastian interrupted, his voice dropping an octave into a dark, terrifying baritone. "And standing in front of me are three four-year-old children with my eyes."
A sharp, audible gasp escaped Clarissa Hart’s lips. She backed away toward the stone balustrade, clutching her designer handbag, her phone slipping from her fingers.
On the phone, Adrian Vale’s composure faltered for a fraction of a second, replaced by a cold, ancient cynicism that made my skin crawl.
"Sebastian, listen to me carefully," Adrian spoke, his voice devoid of warmth. "You were twenty-six years old. You had a duty to this dynasty. A secret marriage to a clinic nurse from Queens would have destroyed our merger with Hart International. I did what was necessary to protect Vale Global."
"You forged my signature on divorce decree addendums," Sebastian realized aloud, his storm-gray eyes flashing like lightning. "You intercepted my private correspondence. You instructed Thomas Vance to threaten a pregnant woman!"
"I preserved this family's legacy!" the old man snapped. "And if you have any loyalty left to your bloodline, you will get into your car, bring Clarissa to the gala tonight, and let our legal team handle the girl quietly!"
Sebastian stared at the phone.
A cold, razor-sharp smile touched his carved lips—a look of pure, absolute, and terrifying sovereign rage.
"I am coming to Vale Tower, Grandfather," Sebastian spoke softly into the receiver. "And when I walk into your office, I am taking back every piece of this company you thought you controlled."
He ended the call, slipping the phone into his pocket.
He turned toward Clarissa Hart, who was weeping frantic, panicked tears.
"Sebastian... please!" Clarissa whimpered, taking a step toward him. "Our wedding is in eight weeks! The press releases have been sent! Our families hold seventy percent of the market share!"
Sebastian reached down, took her hand, and calmly slipped the enormous diamond ring off her finger, dropping it flat into her coat pocket.
"The wedding is canceled, Clarissa," Sebastian informed her flatly. "And if your father attempts to use Hart International shares to retaliate, my litigation team will publish the audit logs of your family's offshore shell accounts before the market opens tomorrow."
Clarissa froze, her jaw sagging open in total, speech-bound horror, as Sebastian turned his back on her forever.
He walked over to where I stood beside the stroller. He didn't touch me, respecting the boundary I had set, but he knelt down on the cold asphalt until his gray eyes were level with Noah, Ivy, and Owen.
"Hello," Sebastian whispered softly, his baritone trembling with a father’s deep, long-buried reverence.
Four-year-old Owen reached out his small, wool-gloved hand, pressing his battered toy dog against Sebastian’s knee. "He's Barnaby. He likes firetrucks."
Tears burst from Sebastian’s silver eyes, spilling over his dark lashes without him trying to wipe them away.
May you like
He looked up at me, his face illuminated by the pale winter sun.
"I need twenty-four hours, Maya," Sebastian begged softly. "Give me twenty-four hours to destroy the men who kept my children from me. And then... let me bring you home."
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