Some upgrades are worth waiting for.
I replayed it once, not because I wanted to hurt myself, but because something in me had gone cold and precise.
There was power in evidence.
For three years, I had swallowed insult after insult in private. But tonight, Julian had offered his cruelty to a room full of witnesses.
So I saved the video.
Then I sent it to my father.
No explanation.
Only the file.
Less than ten seconds later, my phone rang.
I answered.
This time, my father’s voice was not broken.
It was calm.
Too calm.
“Is he at the Apex Gala?”
“Yes.”
“Who is hosting?”
“The Cross Foundation is one of the sponsors. Apex Group is the main host.”
“And Chloe Miller is with him?”
“Yes.”
Another pause.
Then he asked, “Clarissa, did Julian ever make you sign anything related to your shares, inheritance, or family trust?”
“No,” I said. “I refused.”
