Chapter 2 – The Empire Crumbles
Nathan frowned as his phone vibrated for the third time in less than thirty seconds.
He glanced at the screen.
Chief Financial Officer
He rejected the call.
It rang again immediately.
"What?" Nathan snapped.
The color drained from his face as he listened.
"What do you mean the bank froze our credit line?"
He looked at me for the first time with uncertainty.
"That's impossible."
Another call came in.
His attorney.
Then another.
The chairman of his board.
Madison stepped closer, suddenly nervous.
"Nathan... what's happening?"
He ignored her.
"Our investors are pulling out?" he shouted into the phone. "Why?"
Silence.
Then he whispered,
"...The Harrington family?"
His eyes slowly lifted toward me.
"You..."
I calmly wiped the blood from my lip.
"My father warned you three years ago."
"You met my father?" Madison asked.
Nathan swallowed hard.
"No..."
"I never did."
"He never wanted to."
Before he could say another word, the mansion's front doors opened.
Six men in dark suits entered, followed by my father.
Richard Harrington.
One of the wealthiest investors in the country.
The same quiet man Nathan had dismissed as "Sophia's retired uncle" at our wedding.
My father walked directly toward me.
His expression softened when he saw the blood on my back.
"My little girl..."
He gently removed his suit jacket and wrapped it around my shoulders.
Then he turned to Nathan.
The kindness disappeared from his face.
"You raised your hand against my daughter."
Nathan tried to speak.
"Mr. Harrington, this is a misunderstanding—"
"No."
My father interrupted him.
"It is a crime."
Within seconds, security officers stepped forward.
"The house?" Nathan asked.
My father smiled slightly.
"The mortgage belongs to my investment company."
Nathan stared in disbelief.
"What?"
"The loan that saved your business."
"The refinancing."
"The private investors."
"They all came from companies I quietly controlled."
Madison stumbled backward.
"You mean..."
"You built nothing alone," my father replied.
"You were simply allowed to believe you did."
Nathan's knees nearly gave out.
"And now..."
May you like
My father said quietly,
"...that permission has ended."
