Part 2: My Husband Hit Me on Our Wedding Night—He Had No Idea the $120 Million Saving His Company Was Mine

There is a particular kind of coward who, when faced with an insurmountable predator, turns around and bites the nearest creature he thinks cannot fight back.

Jonathan marched toward me, grabbing my wrist in a vice-like grip. "You."

I didn't flinch. "Let go of me, Jonathan."

"Your savings," he said, his eyes bloodshot and erratic. "You told me you had a trust fund from your grandmother. You said you had about two hundred thousand in liquid index funds. Where is the account information?"

I stared at him in disbelief. "You want my grandmother’s inheritance? To cover a hundred-and-twenty-million-dollar deficit?"

"It buys us time!" he spat, tightening his grip until my fingers went numb. "It covers the immediate interest on the bridge loan for another three days while I fix this Vanguard mess! Call your bank right now. Transfer it to NexoCloud’s operating account."

"No," I said clearly.

Florence stood up, coming to stand beside her son. "You selfish little bitch! Your husband's company is on the line! Everything our family has worked for! You marry into this house, and you won't even contribute your pathetic little nest egg to save your husband?"

"It's not my company," I replied coldly, meeting Florence's venomous glare with dead eyes. "And after last night, Jonathan, you aren't getting a single penny from me."

Jonathan raised his free hand—the same hand he had struck me with eight hours ago.

"You think you have a choice?" he hissed. "You're my wife. Under Georgia law, your assets are subject to marital claims if I declare—"

"Touch me again, Jonathan," I interrupted, my voice dropping to a whisper so sharp and venomous it made him freeze, "and you won't live to see your company go bankrupt."

He stared at me. There was something in my eyes—something completely detached from the quiet, accommodating woman he thought he had controlled for two years. For the first time, a flicker of genuine fear flickered behind his anger.

He slowly lowered his hand, though he didn't release my wrist.

"Fine," he sneered, tossing my arm aside with disgust. "Keep your pocket change. When I close Vanguard today, you won't see a dime of the profits. You'll live on an allowance my mother manages, down to the cent."

His phone chimed again. A priority email alert.

Jonathan snatched it up, frantically tapping the screen. His eyes widened.

"What is it?" Richard demanded, rising from his chair.

"It's... it's Vanguard," Jonathan breathed, his hands trembling. "They just sent an official summons. The Managing Partner has agreed to grant NexoCloud an extraordinary hearing. Tomorrow morning at nine o'clock. At their global headquarters in the Vance Tower."

Florence let out a breathless laugh. "See? I told you! They know who you are, Jonathan! They respect you!"

"They want the entire executive team there," Jonathan read aloud, a manic grin spreading across his face. "Full disclosure. They're going to make the final determination in person."

He looked up at me, his arrogance returning in a sickening rush.