Chapter 10 - The Unbroken Queen
The music hummed softly across the rooftop terrace as the sun began to set over the Hudson River, painting the sky in breathtaking shades of violet and rose.
I stepped away from the crowd, walking over to the glass railing at the edge of the terrace, holding my champagne glass.
I looked down at the glittering lights of New York City below—the city where Ethan thought he could crush me, the city where he thought his arrogance made him king.
He had believed that slapping my mouth would put me in my place. He had believed that silence meant weakness, that patience meant submission, and that a wife was merely a trophy to display or strike depending on his mood.
He had failed to realize the simplest truth of all:
A queen does not scream when she is struck. She simply reclaims her crown and rebuilds the kingdom.
"Ms. Vance?"
I turned around to see a young female junior auditor from my firm standing nearby, holding a notepad, looking at me with wide, respectful eyes.
"Yes, Sarah?" I asked warmly.
"The board of directors from Apex Global just arrived," Sarah said excitedly. "They want to hire us for a full-scale forensic review of their European operations. They said they won't hire anyone else in New York."
I looked at the ambitious young woman, seeing a reflection of myself years ago—smart, sharp, and full of untapped potential.
I smiled, taking a slow, satisfying sip of champagne.
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"Tell them I'll be right there, Sarah," I said, my voice steady, powerful, and free. "Let's go show them how it's done."
I turned away from the city lights, walked past the glass doors, and stepped confidently into the bright, brilliant future I had built with my own hands.
