Part 2: My husband dragged me across the marble floor in front of 30 guests because I refused to cook 60 dishes—but the moment my father arrived in three black SUVs, Daniel dropped to his knees.

By 8:45 AM, Daniel had managed to slip out the servant's entrance through the woods, taking an unmarked taxi into the downtown financial district. He wore a rumpled spare suit he kept in his gym locker, his hair unwashed, dark circles carved under his eyes.

He marched past the security gates of the Whitmore Tower, ignoring the whispering receptionists and the icy stares of his own employees.

"I am still the CEO of this company!" he snapped at a junior associate who dared to look at him with disgust.

He threw open the frosted glass doors of the 40th-floor executive boardroom, ready to deliver the speech of his life. "Gentlemen! Ladies! Before anyone makes a rash decision, I have an explanation. The media has taken a private domestic misunderstanding completely out of context—"

His voice died in his throat.

Sitting at the head of the mahogany conference table was not his ally, Chairman Henderson. Henderson was sitting silently in the far corner, looking down at his lap.

Sitting in the chairman's leather throne was me.

I was dressed in a tailored navy-blue bespoke suit, my hair styled in an elegant chignon that covered the faint bruise near my ear. My spine was perfectly straight. Beside me sat Alexander Carter, calmly sipping an espresso, surrounded by three senior corporate litigators.

"Good morning, Daniel," I said calmly. "You're late."

"What... what are you doing in that chair?" Daniel stammered, his fingers clutching the back of a leather swivel chair for balance. "This is a private board meeting for Whitmore Development Group! Security! Remove these trespassers!"

Not a single security guard moved.

"Daniel," Chairman Henderson spoke up quietly, his voice heavy with resignation. "Thirty minutes ago, Carter Global acquired eighty-two percent of the distressed debt and outstanding voting shares of Whitmore Development Group from our creditor banks. Mr. Carter has transferred all voting rights to his daughter."