Chapter 4 - The Fall of Cole EnterprisesBy sunrise the next morning, the financial world woke up to absolute chaos.
From the balcony of Dominic’s private estate high in the Hudson Valley, I watched the morning financial news on a large glass screen. The headlines across every major network were reading the same news: COLE ENTERPRISES COLLAPSES OVERNIGHT: SEC INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED.
The stock ticker at the bottom of the screen showed Cole Enterprises dropping from $120 a share to less than $1.40 in a matter of hours.
Gabriel walked onto the terrace, holding two cups of black coffee. He handed one to me, looking down at my bandaged wrists with quiet, protective concern.
"How are you feeling, Elena?" Gabriel asked gently.
"Better," I said, taking a sip of the warm coffee. "For four years, I lived in a gilded cage, Gabriel. I thought if I stayed quiet and did everything right, Adrian would love me. I forgot who I was."
Gabriel smiled faintly, leaning against the glass railing. "You never forgot, Elena. You just gave him a chance he didn't deserve. But now, the cleanup is almost complete."
"What happened to the estate?" I asked.
"The Cole manor was seized by the bank at 6:00 AM due to defaulted loans," Gabriel explained. "Adrian, his father, and his mother were evicted two hours ago. They are currently staying at a cheap motel near the airport. Their credit cards have been frozen, their accounts locked, and their luxury vehicles repossessed."
"And Vanessa?"
Gabriel chuckled dryly. "Vanessa Hart tried to catch an early morning flight to London, but federal agents intercepted her at JFK Airport regarding offshore tax evasion tied to her father's firm. She’s currently sitting in a holding cell."
Just then, Luca walked out onto the terrace, holding a tablet and a stack of fresh legal documents.
"Good morning, little sister," Luca said cheerfully. "I have some paperwork for you to sign."
I turned to him. "Divorce papers?"
"Divorce papers, asset transfer agreements, and the deed to Cole Enterprises' flagship skyscraper in downtown Manhattan," Luca corrected, handing me a pen. "Since Adrian used marital assets to fund his illegal operations, I managed to secure full financial restitution for you. You now own sixty percent of his former company's physical infrastructure."
I held the pen, staring at the signature line. Four years ago, I signed a marriage certificate that bound me to a family of cruel predators. Today, with a single stroke of a pen, I was taking everything they had ever built.
I signed my name clearly: Elena Moretti.
"What happens to Adrian now?" I asked, handing the pen back.
Luca adjusted his glasses, a dark look flashing across his eyes. "Adrian is facing federal charges for fraud, grand larceny, and domestic assault. But before he goes to trial, he’s trying one last desperate move. He’s been blowing up your old phone for three hours."
I grabbed my phone from the table. There were forty-two missed calls and dozens of text messages from Adrian.
Elena, please answer me! My father had a heart attack! My mother won't stop crying! We have no money! Please talk to your brothers! Tell them to give us back our life! I love you, Elena! Please!
I read the message, feeling no pity at all. He didn't love me when he tied me to that beam. He didn't love me when he whipped me thirty times while his friends laughed. He only loved the power he had over me.
May you like
I tapped a single reply: You wanted me to learn my place. Welcome to yours.
Then I blocked his number forever.
