Chapter 3: The Woman Everyone Underestimated
"I can explain."
Daniel's voice cracked for the first time.
Arthur slowly shook his head.
"You've had twenty-two months to explain."
Another document appeared.
A confidential merger agreement.
One clause immediately caught every investor's attention.
If Daniel married Emily Carter...
The Carter Foundation would release controlling voting shares worth nearly three billion dollars into Brooks International.
But there was another clause.
If Daniel acted in bad faith toward Emily before the marriage was legally completed...
Every agreement became void.
Every investment was immediately withdrawn.
The ballroom became eerily quiet.
Vanessa's face turned pale.
"No..."
She whispered.
Emily finally spoke.
"You thought I was the prize."
She looked directly at Daniel.
"I was the condition."
Daniel stepped toward her.
"Emily... listen to me."
She took one careful step backward despite the pain in her ankle.
"You never loved me."
"I do."
She smiled sadly.
"If that were true..."
Her eyes drifted briefly toward Vanessa.
"...she wouldn't be sitting in my chair."
Silence.
No one defended Daniel.
Not even Vanessa.
Arthur handed Emily a folder.
"I've already signed everything."
Emily accepted it.
Inside were the dissolution papers.
The investment withdrawal.
And her resignation from every company Daniel had hoped to control through marriage.
May you like
Years of planning...
Destroyed in seconds.
