Chapter 5 - The Insolvency of Julian VanceA collective, deafening gasp exploded across the five hundred guests packed inside the Metropolitan Grand Ballroom.
The governors, bank directors, and investors turned their heads, looking from my thirty-carat emerald to Arthur Vance, then back to Julian's pale, sweating face.
Julian turned his head slowly, looking at Victoria Sterling, who was cowering behind his shoulder, her face drained of every drop of color.
"Victoria..." Julian rasped out, his voice shaking violently as sweat poured down his temple. "What is he talking about?! You told me you were the trust holder! You told me you ran the advisory board!"
Arthur Vance pulled a leather binder from his suit jacket, dropping certified corporate disownment records flat onto the central presentation table.
"Victoria Sterling was disowned three years ago for embezzling eighty thousand dollars from a regional charity, Mr. Vance," Arthur announced cleanly for the entire room to hear. "She holds zero equity, zero proxies, and zero authority within our network."
Victoria let out a humiliated, shrieking gasp, turning on her heel, sprinting through the crowd toward the side exit, her high heels clicking frantically against the marble floorboards.
Julian stood completely frozen in the center of the floor, his world, his pride, and his eight-year illusion collapsing into ash before his eyes.
I stepped down from the final stair, stopping three feet from where my husband stood.
"You told me tonight that you needed a woman with 'real presence' beside you, Julian," I spoke softly, my voice smooth, quiet, and carried with a terrifying clarity that filled the room. "A woman who could hold a conversation with investors."
Julian fell to his knees right there on the marble floor, his tailored tuxedo soaking in the spilled wine, tears of pure, frantic terror streaming down his face as he reached out his shaking hands toward my dress.
"Clara... my God... Clara!" Julian wept, his voice cracking into pathetic, desperate squeaks. "I didn't know! I swear to God I didn't know! I was tricked by Victoria! You're my wife, Clara! We've been married for eight years!"
"For eight years, Julian," I said, looking down at him with zero anger, zero hatred, and zero lingering emotion, "you let your mother and sister call me a temp in my own home. You took credit for the platinum watch I bought you. And tonight, you left me bleeding over a sink full of dirty dishes while you brought an imposter to my gala."
Arthur Vance pulled out an encrypted tablet, tapping the primary corporate portal screen.
"Mr. Vance," Arthur declared, "Chairwoman Sterling has officially revoked Vance Enterprises' commercial credit lines. All primary real estate leases held under your firm's name are foreclosed effective immediately."
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Evelyn Vance let out a loud, pathetic shriek, collapsing flat onto her back on the marble floor, while Chloe covered her face, sobbing hysterically as bank directors immediately pulled their business cards back from Julian's pockets.
Two broad-shouldered security guards stepped forward, hoisting Julian’s weeping, limp frame off the ground, escorting him out into the rain toward the waiting police transport sedans.
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