Chapter 9 - The Final Verdict
News of the engagement broke the following morning, sweeping across national media outlets and financial journals with the force of a tidal wave.
Unlike their unexpected introduction months earlier, this announcement was met with universal celebration. Headlines praised the union of Vance Holdings’ CEO and the visionary founder of the Knox Foundation—a true power couple built on mutual respect, strength, and shared ambition.
Far away from the glittering towers of Manhattan, in a small, cramped apartment on the outskirts of the city, Damian Cross sat alone in front of a flickering television screen.
His phone was dead. His bank accounts were nearly drained. His friends had vanished like smoke.
On the screen, a morning news segment showed footage of Ava stepping out of a sleek black car alongside Julian Vance, radiant in a cream-colored cashmere coat, flashing a dazzling smile—and a stunning engagement ring—to the cameras.
Julian’s hand rested protectively and proudly at the small of her back, guiding her past the reporters with quiet, unshakeable authority.
Damian reached out a trembling hand to touch the screen, a bitter, hollow ache twisting in his chest as he realized what he had thrown away. He had traded a woman who loved him unconditionally for status, wealth, and vanity—and in the end, he had lost everything, while she had gained the world.
May you like
He turned the television off, plunging the room into darkness.
There were no apologies left to give. No second chances to beg for. The curtain had fallen, and his story was over.
