e with her racing pulse as she pushed open the hea

ng bit into her skin, but it was nothing

stepped inside, he picked up a stack of New York tabloids and slamm

– STOCK PLUMMETS 12%. And beneath it, a grainy photo of the black cuffli

a discarded tie, the imprint of a second body on the mattress. From that single image, the story metastasized: "Mysterious Man" became "Multiple Men." "One Woman" became "An Orgy." The truth was boring. Lies sold pa

cheek, feeling the raw scratch from the thrown papers earlier.

excuses, Adelia. They care about results. And the result is that you just wiped out millions in shareholder value in a single night! D

tched. "It wasn't

is company!" Enos slamm

ad even seen a hotel security screenshot-Adelia being helped upstairs by Bonny, clearly disor

no confidence. If he protected Adelia, they'd ask why he hadn't vetted his own daughter's c

-that was the businessman's instinct. The board n

Elena had built the company, yes. But she had also made him feel small. Adelia had Elena'

ally stripping you of your inherit

wyer-stepped forward. He slid a th

ts your access to family accounts," Enos

oked her father dead in the eye. "You're not just disinheriting me. You're erasing me

ur mother is dead. And sh

crystallized in her chest. "My mother built this company from nothing. And you're han

nos barked, h

spered, the physical pain in he

" Enos said, turning his

her wrist, roughly snapping her corporate ID lanyard from her

ed, his voice utterly devoid of father

cutting off the sight of her father's back, Adelia stopped cryi

the lobby, she made a silent, bloody vow. She would come back. She would take back everythin

elia stepped out into the storm, clutching the only thing she had lef

the driver. "A

e Compton tower one last time. "I'll be back,

years

JFK International Airport

red trousers and Christian Louboutin hee

She wore oversized black sunglasses, her posture

uit, his face completely devoid of childlike wonder. He effortlessly p

ingly charismatic social butterfly, clutched a plush doll, h

oors opened. Adelia pulled off her sunglasses. Her eyes w

s trench coat. "Mommy, is this th

y exterior. She stroked Luna's hair. "No, baby.

old. "The news says Grandpa's company lost three hundred million dollars. The

row. "You've been wat

app, but a saved screenshot of a financial news headline. "Also, I found the cufflink picture from

forced her face to remain ne

s narrowe

se I s

anhattan, she had broken down crying in the taxi. The driver had asked if she

rnals-handwritten notes from a woman who had built a biotech empire from nothing. Adelia had

sh. Performing secret surgeries for oligarchs who couldn't go to hospital

at became real credentials after she saved a Swiss minister's life. Two years after that, she beca

Os, crime lords, politicians, spies. Between them, they control

not the time

private phone buzzed. It was

e device to he

eper. She was sobbing hysterically. "It's your grandmother! Elean

er stomach dropped so fast

emanded, her grip on the phon

octors to let nature take its course. He's going to let her die! He said it's 'God's will'

elia's chest. The air around

y way," s

nd spun toward the curb where a massiv

back doors. "Get

ipping the leather steering wheel tight enough to snap it. She slammed her foot on the gas pedal. The heavy SU

ispered to Leo: "Mommy's goin

up from his ta