"My mother-in-law tore my maternity gown in front of nearly 200 wedding guests while I was eight months pregnant. And when the bride accused me of stealing her diamond ring, my own husband handed over my purse instead of defending me.

By 2:00 PM, the news of Miller Holdings' catastrophic collapse had already made the front pages of the local financial dailies.

The headlines screamed across digital newsstands:“MILLER EMPIRE CRUMBLES OVERNIGHT: UNNAMED GLOBAL CONGLOMERATE CALLS IN EMERGENCY LIQUIDITY!”“SOCIALITE CLAN FACES BANKRUPTCY AFTER HIGH-SOCIETY WEDDING SCANDAL!”

I spent the afternoon packing my personal belongings from the suburban townhouse that Daniel and I had shared—a house that, ironically, was currently under foreclosure review by the bank. I didn't go alone. Two of my father’s elite security operatives accompanied me, standing quietly by the front door while I boxed up my books, clothes, and baby registry items.

Daniel was sitting at the kitchen island, his head buried in his hands. The confident, arrogant golden-boy heir was entirely gone, replaced by a hollow, broken shell of a man. His expensive Italian suit was rumpled, his hair unbrushed, and empty glasses of whiskey littered the counter around him.

When I zipped up my final suitcase, the sound seemed to snap him out of his daze.

Daniel stood up abruptly, stumbling slightly as he rushed over to the living room. “Vivienne... wait.”

I didn't stop walking toward the front door. The security operatives stepped forward, forming a protective barrier between us.

“Vivienne, please!” Daniel cried out, his voice cracking as he reached out a trembling hand. “You can’t just walk away! We’ve been through two years of marriage! We’re having a baby!”

I stopped, turning my head slightly to look at him over my shoulder. My expression was as cold and hard as polished stone.

“We were having a baby, Daniel,” I corrected him. “You made it very clear last night whose family you belonged to. When your mother ripped my dress, you watched. When your sister emptied my purse, you handed it to her. When I needed a husband, I got a coward.”

“I was scared!” Daniel shouted, tears finally spilling over his eyelids, tracking down his hollow cheeks. “You don't understand what my mother is like! She controls everything! If I had stood up to her, she would have cut me off, too!”

“And there it is,” I whispered, a bitter, humorless smile touching my lips. “You were afraid of losing your inheritance, so you sacrificed your wife and your unborn child. At least you’re consistent, Daniel.”

Just then, the front doorbell chimed loudly.

One of the security operatives opened the door. Standing on the porch was a local process server holding a thick manila envelope bearing the official seal of the high court.

“Daniel Miller?” the server asked.

Daniel stared at the envelope in horror.

“Papers for you,” the server said, stepping forward and placing the envelope directly onto the side table before turning around and walking away.

Daniel’s hands shook as he picked up the envelope. He tore it open, pulling out the heavily stamped legal documents. His eyes scanned the first page, and the color drained entirely from his face.

“Divorce... and immediate annulment proceedings?” Daniel gasped, looking up at me with absolute disbelief. “You’re... you’re divorcing me? Just like that?”

“Just like that,” I said softly. “My lawyers will handle the rest. Don't call me. Don't text me. If you ever want to see your child, your legal representation can communicate through Marcus Vance in Geneva.”

Before he could utter another word, I turned away, walking out the front door and stepping into the waiting armored Maybach.

As the car door closed, sealing out the pathetic sound of Daniel’s weeping, my phone buzzed with a short text message from Marcus:“Update: Chloe’s five-carat diamond ring was just ‘discovered’ at the bottom of the drained champagne fountain by country club staff. She is currently being questioned by police for filing a false police report and staging a public insurance fraud scheme.”