The morning sun pierced through the De Morgon Tower's floor-to-ceiling windows, casting golden light over the opulent office. Henry de Morgon's dark eyes scanned the financial dashboards on multiple screens, jaw tight, breath coming fast. His hands trembled as he flicked through the news alerts every headline a dagger.
"Impossible… stocks, joint ventures, our influence… all collapsing overnight?" Henry's voice roared, echoing against the marble walls. Isabella de Morgon, poised yet anxious, stepped closer, placing a hand lightly on his arm.
"Henry, calm down. Let's—"
"Calm down?" he bellowed, spinning toward her, eyes blazing like wildfire. "Do you understand what's happening? De Morgon Enterprises… our empire… almost halved in a single day?!"
Isabella flinched, knowing her husband's fury was as legendary as his power. "It must be… Chantel—" she whispered.
Henry whirled sharply, voice thunderous. "That reckless girl! Chantel! Come here, now!"
Chantel, draped in designer silk, stepped out hesitantly, trying to mask fear with a weak smile. "Yes… Father?"
Henry's hand shot out, slapping her face with the sharp crack of authority. "Do you have any idea what you've done?" His voice shook with barely controlled fury. "Do you even understand the consequences of your arrogance?"
Chantel's teeth gritted, tears pricking at her eyes. "Father… I—"
"Don't!" Henry thundered. "You've humiliated this family in front of the entire financial world! The headlines, the market fluctuations, the whispers in every boardroom — all because of you!"
"You… you don't understand," she stammered.
"Oh, I understand perfectly," Henry growled. "You tried to ruin a girl you didn't even know. You wanted petty revenge. You thought bribery and rumors could touch Adrian De Vere!"
Chantel froze. "He… he's—he's just—"
"JUST?!" Henry's voice cracked like a whip. "Adrian De Vere is not 'just' anything! Do you know what he is?" He slammed his fist on the desk, rattling crystal glasses. "He is royalty! A family controlling the financial world, unmatched in wealth and influence! He moves markets with a word! Entire banks listen when he speaks! And you dared… dared… to meddle with him?!"
Chantel's face paled. "Father… I… I just thought—"
"Thought?" Henry's tone was deadly. "You thought we could intimidate someone from a royal, financial dynasty controlling more than our imagination? Adrian De Vere does not forgive, does not bend, does not care about petty schemes. And now? Overnight, our projects frozen, our deals questioned, stock value dipping… and all because of you."
Chantel's eyes darted away, guilt and fear warring with defiance. "Father… I—"
"Silence!" Henry thundered. "You are grounded, no social outings, no influence in company decisions. You will apologize to anyone even remotely involved in this fiasco! Do you understand?"
"Yes, Father…" she whispered, voice shaking.
Henry's gaze was cold, relentless. "Let this be a lesson the world is larger than your petty schemes. Adrian De Vere's reach, his power… it is not something we can contest lightly. You may have wealth, lineage, and connections, but never, never cross someone like him."
Chantel swallowed hard, trembling. She had imagined power, influence, connections… but none of it mattered. Against Adrian De Vere, she had been nothing.
Isabella's eyes darted nervously to Henry. "Henry… perhaps—"
"No," he snapped, eyes burning. "She must understand the full weight of what she's done. She must feel the cold shadow of her failure looming over our legacy. And one more thing…" He leaned forward, fingers gripping the edge of the desk. "The markets don't forgive mistakes. And Adrian De Vere does not forget. Not ever."
Chantel shivered, the room suddenly colder, the walls closing in. Her pulse raced as the reality sank in. Outside the safety of her family's influence, the world was larger, sharper, deadlier. And she had just painted herself a target.
Henry's gaze went back to the screens, hands clenched, voice a low growl, muttering, "If only we knew the full extent of his reach…"
Chantel stayed frozen, knowing deep down: there was no mercy coming, no safety net left. Somewhere, far above her, Adrian De Vere was watching. And she had just invited the storm.
The room fell silent. Yet the tension lingered, thick and suffocating a storm that had only just begun.