Chapter 7
Chapter 7: The Gathering Storm
Within forty-eight hours, the city’s high society began to feel the shift. It started with subtle whispers, then escalated into a full-scale financial bloodbath.
Victoria Vanguard sat in her opulent study, staring at her laptop screen in absolute horror. The Vanguard Group's stock ticker was a sea of bleeding red.
"What do you mean the city zoning permits for our downtown mega-development were revoked?!" Victoria screamed into her phone at her lead attorney. "We’ve invested two billion dollars into that project!"
"The Mayor’s office cited 'environmental and safety violations,' Victoria," the attorney replied, his voice trembling. "And it’s not just that. The IRS just launched an audit into our family trusts. Someone leaked our private financial ledgers. Victoria... whoever is doing this has federal backing. We are being targeted from the top down."
Victoria slammed the phone down, her breathing ragged. She looked up to see Ethan standing in the doorway of her study. He looked hollowed out—his eyes bloodshot, his jaw covered in dark stubble. He hadn't slept or changed his clothes in two days.
"You did this," Victoria hissed, pointing a trembling, manicured finger at her son. "You’re helping them destroy us! Your own family!"
"I haven't done anything, Mother," Ethan said softly, his voice devoid of any emotion. "This is just the wind. The storm hasn't even hit us yet."
"We need to issue a public statement! Say that Clara is on vacation—"
"Clara is gone, Victoria," Ethan interrupted, stepping into the room. "She discharged herself from the hospital this morning under a federal security escort. I went to her apartment, to her hometown, to her father’s house... she vanished. She won't answer my calls. She won't let me explain."
May you like
"Good! Let the trash return to her dumpster!" Victoria snapped, trying to regain her pride.
Ethan let out a low, chilling laugh. "You still don't get it, do you? She didn't run away because she's scared. She ran away to build an army. And when she comes back, she isn't just going to divorce me. She’s going to execute this entire family."
