CHAPTER 3: WHEN THE EMPIRE TURNED
Shock spread faster than panic.
"My... daughter?"
Someone dropped a champagne glass.
It shattered across the marble floor.
The old man slowly faced the crowd.
"You all watched."
His calm voice carried through the silent ballroom.
"You watched my daughter bleed."
"No one intervened."
His gaze settled on the young heir.
"You believed your family was untouchable."
The heir finally found his voice.
"This is a misunderstanding."
"I didn't know who she was."
My father answered without emotion.
"Exactly."
"You thought her value depended on her name."
He nodded once.
Large screens descended from the ceiling.
Security footage began to play.
Every insult.
Every shove.
Every witness who turned away.
Every guest who laughed.
Nothing had escaped the cameras.
Some guests buried their faces in shame.
Others desperately reached for their phones.
There was no signal.
The estate's communications had already been disabled.
"You wanted privacy," my father said.
"So tonight..."
"You'll have accountability."
Outside, police vehicles surrounded the mansion.
Government investigators entered one after another.
Financial crimes.
Bribery.
Fraud.
Tax evasion.
One investigation uncovered another.
The heir fell to his knees.
"This will destroy my family."
May you like
My father looked down at him.
"You destroyed it yourself."
