CHAPTER 1 — THE MORNING THE EMPIRE FELL

By sunrise, the world of Damian Cross had already begun collapsing.

But he didn’t know it yet.

He woke up inside the same mansion where he had humiliated his wife only hours earlier.

The same marble floors.

The same crystal chandeliers.

The same walls that had witnessed Isabella Montrose walk away with dignity while everyone laughed at her.

Damian smiled when he remembered the night.

He actually smiled.

Because in his mind, Isabella had lost.

She had left.

She had embarrassed herself.

And soon, she would come crawling back.

“People like her always do,” he said while adjusting his cufflinks.

Vanessa Hale stood behind him, wearing a silk robe, staring at herself in the mirror.

“So…” she asked carefully.

“Does that mean I’m finally the lady of this house?”

Damian smiled.

“By tonight, everyone will know.”

But before Vanessa could celebrate, Damian’s phone rang.

The screen showed:

CROSS HOLDINGS — EMERGENCY BOARD REQUEST

He answered immediately.

“What is this about?”

The voice on the other end was shaking.

“Mr. Cross…”

“Something happened overnight.”

Damian frowned.

“What?”

“The banks froze every major account connected to Cross Holdings.”

His expression changed.

“What are you talking about?”

“We don’t know. Every line of credit has been suspended.”

Damian laughed.

“That’s impossible.”

The assistant hesitated.

Then whispered:

“There’s one more thing.”

“What?”

“The board received a legal notice.”

“From who?”

A pause.

Then:

“Montrose Global.”

The room went silent.

Damian slowly lowered the phone.

“No.”

Vanessa noticed his expression.

“What happened?”

Damian ignored her.

Because for the first time…

He remembered Isabella’s words.

Every dollar your family worships exists because I allowed it to.

At the time, he thought it was a desperate lie.

Now…

For the first time…

He wondered if it wasn’t.

Three hours later.

The Cross Holdings headquarters was in chaos.

Executives rushed through the building.

Lawyers whispered in conference rooms.

Investors demanded answers.

And at the center of it all…

Damian stood in front of a giant screen displaying one name:

MONTROSE GLOBAL INTERNATIONAL

The largest private investment group in the country.

The company behind hundreds of businesses.

Technology.

Real estate.

Luxury brands.

Financial institutions.

And hidden beneath every major deal Damian had ever made…

Was the Montrose name.

His secretary entered nervously.

“Mr. Cross…”

“The board meeting is ready.”

Damian walked into the room.

Twenty executives sat around the table.

But one chair remained empty.

The chairman’s chair.

Then the doors opened.

Everyone stood.

Damian froze.

Because Isabella walked in.

No tears.

No anger.

No revengeful expression.

Only confidence.

She wore a white suit.

Her hair was perfectly styled.

The woman they had thrown out of the mansion last night…

Now looked like someone who owned the entire world.

The chairman beside her stood.

“Ladies and gentlemen…”

“Allow me to introduce the true controlling shareholder of Cross Holdings.”

“Mrs. Isabella Montrose.”

The room went silent.

Damian felt the blood leave his face.

Isabella looked directly at him.

“Good morning, Damian.”

“You wanted everyone to know who had power.”

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She placed a folder on the table.

“Today, everyone will.”