News reports revealed that the three companies Jaxon had taken down were all involved in shady dealings–money laundering, illegal gambling, offshore shell schemes.
Turns out, he hadn’t just crushed the competition–He’d done the world a favor.
I glanced at Jaxon behind the wheel. Crisp white suit, perfectly tailored. One hand resting on the steering wheel, long fingers relaxed but
in control. His profile sharp and composed, gold–rimmed glasses catching the light just so.”
He looked like a man who’d just won a war–and knew it.
I muttered under my breath, “Polished on the outside, dangerous underneath.”
Jaxon heard me. His lips curled into a slight, amused smile.
The next day, I pulled every piece of the Brown Enterprises’s business from the Grant Enterprises.
Steven tried to make things hard–demanding a massive breach–of–contract fee, thinking he could squeeze us. I paid it in full–every cent,
in cash.
That night, Jaxon made his move.
media firestorm hit the Grant Family. Allegations, rumors, leaks–one scandal after another.
The real bombshell was even more shocking. The company’s financials had a massive hole. Millions were missing. Turns out, Nellie had been secretly siphoning money.
Her brother had gambled it all away in Murdox City–every last dollar. Panicked, she’d tried to cover the losses with company funds. When the truth came out, Steven went ballistic–smashed up an entire room at the postnatal recovery center. Someone caught it on video and uploaded it online.
The internet lit up:
“Serves him right. Cheats with a mistress and the mistress robs him blind.”
“Honestly, a perfect match–trash couple of the year.“>
“I’m dumping all my stock tomorrow before i go broke like that clown.”
Overnight, chaos hit the Grants.}
Half their employees quit. Suppliers and partners pulled out. Their stock plummeted–teetering on the edge of bankruptcy.
The next morning, as I was leaving the house, I ran into Steven’s mother outside the gate.}
She was dressed to the nines, smiling like nothing big ever happened.”
“Lucia, you’ve always been the daughter–in–law I hoped for,” she said sweetly. “I’m willing to help you get rid of that little tramp. Why don’t you give Steve another chance, hmm?“}
I pulled my hand out of hers and raised my left hand slightly, flashing the massive diamond ring on my finger.
With a polite smile, I said, “Sorry, ma’am. I’ve found someone better.”}
“As for your charming son–and you, the gold standard of toxic mothers–in–law I’ll leave you to each other. You’re perfect for ruining someone else’s life.”
Her face turned beet red. “You little! Who do you think you are, talking to me like that?”
“The Grant Family has served in the military for generations. So what if we go bankrupt? We’ve got legacy. My son won’t have any trouble finding a real woman to marry!”
Her rant actually reminded me of something. I pulled out my phone and called the police to report Nellie–for stealing one of my Hermès bags.
When the police came to search Steven’s villa, I went with them.
He was sitting in his room, surrounded by half–empty liquor bottles, drowning in self–pity. His eyes lit up when he saw me.} “Lucia… you came back for me?“>
I stepped back as he reached for me. “No misunderstanding–I’m here to collect my things.”
What I’d left behind in that house–bags, jewelry, designer pieces–could easily cover the down payment on a luxury condo.
As expected, the police cross–checked my receipts and discovered that more than half my items were missing.
I turned to Steven and said flatly, “The missing items are worth over a million. So what’s it going to be–are you going to pay me back, or should the cops go have a chat with Nellie?”
The moment he heard her name, his face twisted in rage and he smashed the bottle in his hand.)
“Stop talking about that woman! She conned me–lied to my face!” Then he looked at me, his voice suddenly hoarse and desperate. “Lucia, I messed up. I really did. Please–give me another chance.“}
“I was blind, stupid. I chased the wrong things. But I know better now.”
