Chapter 4 - The Separation of EmpiresGabriel walked down the length of the room, stepping firmly between Victor and my hospital bed.
Behind him stood Bridget Colton, the most feared divorce and corporate litigation attorney in Illinois and New York.
"Gabriel..." Victor growled, standing up slowly, his posture turning dangerous as his hand flicked toward his jacket.
Before Victor’s fingers could reach his holster, Gabriel’s three security operators drew their suppressed sidearms, aiming them cleanly at Victor’s chest.
"Touch that leather, Victor," Gabriel warned softly, "and my men will put three holes in your heart before you clear the seam. My sister almost died because of your arrogance. You are done."
Bridget Colton stepped forward, pulling a thick leather folder bound by red judicial seals from her briefcase, laying it flat onto the overbed table.
"Don Romano," Bridget announced cleanly. "I have filed an Emergency Petition for Absolute Separation, a Master Asset Restraint Order, and a Judicial Custody Decree on behalf of Mrs. Elena Sterling Romano."
Victor stared at the legal documents in total, speech-bound horror. "Asset restraint?! Half of Knox Dynamics and the Romano trusts are registered under my name!"
"And sixty percent of your primary holding companies were underwritten by the Sterling family trust seven years ago," Bridget corrected with a razor-sharp, freezing smile. "Under Section 14 of your prenuptial agreement, if you engage in gross marital misconduct resulting in severe physical harm to my client, Elena retains the absolute right to execute an immediate 100% equity recall of all joint assets."
Victor’s jaw sagged open. He turned his desperate, bloodshot eyes toward me. "Elena... you took my firm...?"
"I built your firm, Victor," I answered softly, my voice standing firm, unbroken, and sovereign. "While you were playing boss in private suites, I was managing your offshore ledgers and legal structures. Now... I am taking back what belongs to me."
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Gabriel took my hand gently, assisting me as I sat up, draping a warm cashmere coat around my shoulders, guiding me smoothly out of the hospital suite.
Victor stood frozen among the armed guards, watching his wife—the queen who had built his throne—walk away from him forever.
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