Chapter 2: The Truth Beneath the Empire
The next morning, everything began to unravel.
Ethan stormed into his father’s office, throwing a stack of documents onto the desk.
“I want answers. Now.”
His father, usually calm and composed, didn’t even look surprised.
Instead, he sighed.
“I was hoping this day wouldn’t come like this.”
Ethan froze.
“What does that mean?”
His father leaned back slowly, removing his glasses.
“Our company… our properties… even this mansion—none of it is truly ours.”
The words hit harder than any slap.
“What are you talking about?”
“We manage it,” his father clarified. “We operate under a holding structure. The real controlling interest…”
He hesitated.
“…belongs to the Scalondo family.”
Silence.
Heavy. Crushing.
Ethan staggered back a step. “So you’re saying… she…”
“Yes,” his father said quietly. “Mariana Scalondo isn’t just wealthy. She’s the primary heir.”
The room spun.
Every insult.
Every command.
Every cruel word he had thrown at her…
He felt sick.
“And there’s more,” his father added. “Last night, after she left… we received notice.”
Ethan’s heart dropped.
“Notice of what?”
His father slid a single sheet of paper across the desk.
Termination of partnership.
Immediate effect.
Ethan stared at it, his hands shaking.
“She didn’t fight you,” his father said. “She didn’t argue.”
May you like
“She simply… walked away.”
And with that, she took everything with her.
