Chapter 2: The House Was Never Theirs
Victor slowly lifted his shoe from Elena's throat.
For the first time in twenty years, the man who terrified boardrooms looked terrified himself.
"Mr. Vale..." he stammered. "This... this is a misunderstanding."
Malcolm Vale didn't even acknowledge him.
Instead, he walked straight across the shattered glass and knelt beside his granddaughter.
His expensive suit brushed against the blood-stained marble without hesitation.
"Elena."
His voice cracked.
"I'm here."
Tears finally escaped Elena's eyes.
Not because of the pain.
Because someone had finally come.
A medical team rushed through the front doors behind Malcolm.
Within seconds they were reconnecting an IV, checking her pulse, and placing an oxygen mask over her face.
One doctor looked up, horrified.
"Another thirty minutes and she wouldn't have survived."
The room fell silent.
Malcolm slowly rose to his feet.
His eyes settled on Adrian.
"You told me she was receiving treatment in Switzerland."
Adrian swallowed.
"I... Grandpa... I can explain."
"No."
Malcolm raised the deed in his hand.
"You forged Elena's signature."
Then he handed another folder to one of his attorneys.
"Read it."
The lawyer opened the file.
"The Harlan Group has committed tax fraud, insurance fraud, fraudulent asset transfers, and embezzled over four hundred million dollars from Vale Holdings through shell companies."
Victor's knees weakened.
"Impossible..."
Malcolm looked directly at him.
"My granddaughter found every transaction."
Victor stared at Elena in disbelief.
"She couldn't."
Even lying barely conscious on the stretcher...
Elena smiled.
"I already did."
The lawyer placed the foreclosure notice on the marble floor.
"As of nine o'clock this morning, every property used as collateral now belongs to the Vale family."
Victor looked around the mansion.
His mansion.
His kingdom.
May you like
It had never belonged to him again.
Not anymore.
