Part 2: He dragged his wife by her hair to beg his mistress for mercy at a elite Manhattan gala, until New York's most feared billionaire stepped in and claimed her as his own.

By eight in the morning, the city was ablaze.

Audrey sat at the marble island in Daniel’s open-concept kitchen, clutching a warm porcelain mug between both hands. Across from her, Daniel’s lead corporate attorney, Marcus Vance—no relation to Lucas, though the irony wasn't lost on anyone—slid a black leather folder across the counter.

Beside it lay three major morning tabloids and a tablet streaming financial news.

The cover of the *New York Post* showed a high-resolution, brutally clear photograph: Lucas Vance, teeth bared like a rabid dog, his hand twisted into Audrey’s dark hair as she knelt on the shattered glass of Naomi’s champagne flute. And right beside it, an even larger image: Daniel Sinclair stepping between them, his fist catching Lucas across the jaw, while his other arm shielded Audrey.

The headline blared: **SAVAGE SOCIETY: VANCE HEIR DRAGS WIFE IN PUBLIC HUMILIATION; SINCLAIR CLAIMS THE SPOILS.**

"The video on TikTok has seventy million views," Marcus stated calmly, adjusting his gold-rimmed glasses. "Twitter has been trending #CancelLucasVance for nine consecutive hours. The board of Vance Enterprises called an emergency session at six a.m. Three major institutional investors have already signaled their intent to pull capital unless Lucas steps down as Chief Operating Officer."

Audrey stared at the images. Seeing her own degradation splashed across newsstands was like having the skin peeled from her body. "He will come after me," she whispered. "Lucas won't take this lying down. When he’s cornered, he gets violent."

As if summoned by her words, the phone on the counter buzzed violently. The caller ID flashed: *Mother.*

Audrey hesitated, her heart hammering against her ribs. Daniel, who had just entered the kitchen dressed in a charcoal bespoke suit, reached over her shoulder and tapped the speaker button.

"Audrey!" Eleanor Miller’s voice shrieked through the speaker, hysterical and breathless. "What have you done? Have you lost your mind? Lucas just called me from his lawyer’s office! He froze your accounts, he canceled your father’s memorial fund, and he told me the private hospital in Zurich will discontinue my cardiac treatments by the end of the week! You go back to that penthouse right now, get on your knees, and fix this!"

Audrey flinched, the words striking like physical blows. For three years, her mother had treated her not as a daughter, but as an insurance policy. Every slap Lucas had dealt in the dark, every insult hurled over cold dinners, Audrey had endured so her mother’s medical bills would be paid.

Before Audrey could choke out a response, Daniel leaned over the phone.

"Mrs. Miller," he spoke, his tone freezing the room.

The shrieking stopped abruptly. "Who... who is this?"

"Daniel Sinclair. Listen to me very carefully, because I will only explain this once," Daniel said, his voice quiet, lethal, and absolute. "Your daughter is no longer Lucas Vance’s punching bag, nor is she your collateral. Ten minutes ago, Sinclair Capital transferred five million dollars to the Zurich medical facility under Audrey’s sole name. Your treatment is secured for the next three years."

Eleanor sputtered, "Mr. Sinclair? But... but Lucas—"

"If you ever call this number again to command your daughter to kneel before the man who assaulted her," Daniel cut in ruthlessly, "I will revoke that trust fund before the wire fully clears and have your personal finances audited for tax fraud. Lose this number."

Daniel ended the call with a single tap.

Audrey stared at him, her chest heaving, stunned into complete speechlessness. "Daniel... five million? Why would you do that?"

"Because bullies only understand two things: absolute force and absolute bankruptcy," Daniel replied, meeting her gaze squarely. "Your mother cannot be used as leverage against you anymore. Now, Audrey. It’s your turn to decide. Do we negotiate a quiet settlement, or do we take everything he owns?"