Chapter 4 - Cracks in the Empire
The fallout was immediate and catastrophic.
By 2:00 PM that afternoon, trading of Vale Enterprises stock was temporarily halted after shares plunged thirty-eight percent in less than two hours. News outlets were broadcasting live outside the corporate headquarters, where legal representatives from the SEC were seen entering the building with bankers’ boxes.
Social media was in an absolute frenzy. The video of Vanessa screaming at me had been remixed, memed, and shared across every platform imaginable. The public narrative had shifted from a funny wedding disaster to a dramatic tale of corporate greed, arrogance, and poetic justice.
Inside the Vale family estate, chaos reigned.
Vanessa sat on the grand velvet sofa in the living room, staring at her phone screen in sheer horror. Her follower count was dropping by tens of thousands every hour, replaced by thousands of furious comments calling her an arrogant bully and demanding brands drop her sponsorship deals.
“This can’t be happening!” Vanessa screamed, throwing her phone against the marble fireplace, where it shattered into pieces. “Dad! Do something! Call the mayor! Call the network executives!”
Richard Vale sat in his leather armchair, staring blankly at the wall. For the first time in his life, the powerful tycoon looked old and broken. His tie was loosened, his hair disheveled.
“There is nothing to call, Vanessa,” Richard said, his voice completely hollow. “The SEC has frozen our primary liquidity accounts. The board of directors has called an emergency vote for tomorrow morning to remove me as Chairman.”
“What?!” Vanessa gasped. “They can’t do that! It’s our company!”
“Not anymore,” a cold voice said from the doorway.
Vanessa turned to see Adrian walking into the room. He carried a single black leather suitcase.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Vanessa demanded, rising to her feet. “You’re my husband! You should be here helping us fix this!”
Adrian looked at her, his eyes dead and devoid of any affection. “I’m going to my apartment, Vanessa. And my lawyers will be delivering divorce papers to your legal team by 5:00 PM.”
Vanessa blinked, as if she couldn't comprehend the words. “Divorce? We’ve been married for less than twenty-four hours!”
“We were never married,” Adrian said bluntly. “We never signed the registry at the venue because you were too busy throwing a temper tantrum about champagne and guest lists. The marriage is legally void.”
Vanessa’s face crumpled in panic. “Adrian, please! You can’t leave me now! Everyone is laughing at me! The whole world is against us!”
“No, Vanessa,” Adrian said, pausing at the threshold of the grand front door. “The world isn't against you. The world is just finally seeing who you really are. You called Maya scum because she didn't have money or status. But she has integrity, brilliance, and grace. You have fifty-thousand-euro dresses and a soul made of dirt.”
Without another word, Adrian walked out, slamming the heavy iron door behind him.
Vanessa sank to her knees on the Persian rug, sobbing uncontrollably. But her father didn't comfort her. He didn't even look at her.
Instead, Richard picked up his landline phone and dialed a private number.
“Arthur Vance,” Richard whispered into the receiver when the call connected. “Put me through to Maya Lin.”
There was a brief pause on the line before Arthur’s voice replied, calm and unbothered: “Miss Lin is currently in a high-level strategy meeting, Mr. Vale. She left a message for you, however.”
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“What message?” Richard pleaded, his voice cracking.
“She said: 'The champagne tower was just the first thing to fall. Make sure you’re wearing comfortable shoes for the board meeting tomorrow.'”
