Chapter 9 - THE CRUMBLING EMPIRE
The morning after the masquerade, the financial news was dominated by one story.
The Vance Group's stock had completely crashed to zero within two hours of opening.
Their creditors demanded immediate repayment of loans worth hundreds of millions.
Every major bank in the country refused to help them, citing risks from the Harringtons.
Chloe sat in the grand office of the Harrington Group, reading the financial reports.
She was sitting in a high-backed leather chair, looking every bit like a CEO.
A team of elite lawyers and financial analysts stood before her, waiting for orders.
"Miss Harrington, the Vance family assets are being liquidated as we speak," the lead lawyer said.
"Their penthouse, their cars, and their family mansion are all up for auction."
Chloe turned her chair around to look at the beautiful view of the New York skyline.
"Buy everything," Chloe commanded softly, her voice filled with quiet authority.
"Every single piece of property they own, I want it under the Harrington name."
"And what about the family themselves, Miss Harrington?" the analyst asked.
"Leave them enough money to buy a small apartment in the poorest district," Chloe replied.
"Let them experience what it feels like to count pennies for a loaf of bread."
The team nodded respectfully and rushed out of the room to execute her commands.
Chloe leaned back, looking at her neatly bandaged hands, the silver lines glowing faintly.
She didn't feel malicious; she felt a deep sense of balance and cosmic justice.
Later that afternoon, Chloe decided to visit the Vance mansion one last time.
She wanted to see the look on Victoria's face when the reality finally set in.
She arrived in a sleek, black limousine escorted by a team of professional guards.
The gates of the Vance estate were open, moving trucks lining the driveway.
Workers were carrying out expensive paintings, statues, and designer furniture.
Victoria Vance stood on the front porch, clutching a small cardboard box of clothes.
She was wearing a cheap, simple track suit, her hair messy and unwashed.
She looked older, the stress of the past twenty-four hours stripping away her youth.
When the limousine pulled up, Victoria stopped and watched with hollow eyes.
The door opened, and Chloe stepped out, looking radiant in a white trench coat.
The irony was beautiful; Chloe was now the one in pure, spotless white.
Victoria stared at her, her voice completely devoid of its former arrogance.
"Are you happy now?" Victoria asked weakly, her tears drying up.
"You took everything from us. We have nothing left," she whimpered.
"I didn't take it, Victoria. Your own arrogance destroyed you," Chloe answered calmly.
"You thought wealth gave you the right to be a monster."
"I am just reclaiming the debt you owed me from that night," Chloe said.
May you like
She walked past Victoria into the empty mansion, her heels clicking loudly on the floor.
The golden cage had finally broken, and the bird inside had nothing left to sing.
