Chapter 10 - The Empire Endures
Six months later, the dust had fully settled.
Marcus was sentenced to four years in a minimum-security federal facility for wire fraud and embezzlement. Without my money to protect him, the reality of his incompetence had caught up to him.
Beatrice, unable to cope with the reality of her new life, was permanently banned from every high-society club in the city. I heard through the grapevine that she was managing a discount retail store, spending her days folding cheap sweaters and complaining to anyone who would listen about how she used to be royalty.
As for me? I was thriving.
I was sitting on the terrace of my mansion, a warm summer breeze rustling the oak trees. I had renovated the entire first floor, tearing up the Spanish hardwood Marcus and Beatrice had walked on, replacing it with sleek, modern marble. The heavy, oppressive family portrait above the fireplace was gone, replaced by a stunning piece of modern art I had bought at an auction in Paris.
Vance sat across from me at the patio table, sipping an iced tea.
"The Vanguard logistics fleet was successfully liquidated yesterday," Vance reported, sliding a folder toward me. "Aegis absorbed the remaining assets. Your net worth has increased by another twelve percent this quarter."
"Good," I smiled, looking out over the manicured lawns.
"You know, Serena," Vance said, leaning back in his chair. "When you first called me that night, I thought you were just a scorned wife looking for a quick payday. But you... you built an empire out of the ashes of that slap."
May you like
I looked down at my hand. The faint, silvery scar where my diamond ring had cut into my palm was still there. A permanent reminder of the moment I stopped being a victim and became an architect of my own destiny.
"They thought I was just an accessory, Vance," I said quietly, raising my glass in a toast to the empty, beautiful estate that was solely, entirely mine. "They just didn't realize I was the one paying for the dress."
