Chapter 8
I walked out of Montgomery Tower.
The chaos behind me–the shouting, the camera flashes, the questions–none of it mattered anymore.
I climbed into Zeke’s SUV and sank into the seat, closing my eyes.
Hours of adrenaline finally caught up with me. I was exhausted.
“Is it over?” Zeke asked quietly.
“ No p>
I opened my eyes and stared out the window.
“It’s just getting started p>
What came next for the Montgomerys? Shareholder withdrawals. Bank foreclosures. Federal investigations.
They were trapped. No way out.
“Hell yeah p>
Zeke handed me a bottle of water.
“But that Julian guy–you’re really just letting him walk p>
“Letting him walk? ”
I twisted the cap off and took a long sip.
“Trust me. His nightmare’s just beginning p>
Back at the hotel, the first thing I did was call Julian’s father.
Harrison Bradford. CEO of Bradford Holdings.
The Bradfords and Montgomerys went way back–old money, old ties. Harrison had been one of the biggest supporters of our engagement, seeing it as a way to merge the two families‘ empires even tighter.
He picked up on the second ring, his voice warm and booming.
“Vivian! Sweetheart, I heard you made it back safe. Thank God, Listen, once things settle down, let me take you out for a proper celebratory dinner p>
“Mr. Bradford,” I said evenly. “That won’t be necessary.
“I’m calling off the engagement p>
Silence.
Then, he said carefully: “Vivian… is there some kind of misunderstanding? Did Julian do something to upset you p>
“You should watch today’s press conference,” I said. “I think it’ll clear things up p>
I hung up.
I could already picture his face when he saw the footage–the video, the recordings, Julian sobbing on his knees.
Chapter 8
The Bradfords prided themselves on reputation above all else.
This scandal? It would destroy Julian in his father’s eyes.
And once word spread through Manhattan’s elite circles? Julian would be DONE. Socially exiled. Professionally blacklisted.
Honestly? That hurt him way more than anything physical ever could.
Sure enough, within the hour, Julian started calling.
I didn’t pick up.
He kept trying. Over and over. Then the texts started rolling in.
[Vivian, PLEASE pick up. I’m begging you p>
[My dad’s kicking me out. I have NOTHING left p>
[I know I screwed up. Just give me ONE more chance. I’ll do anything. I’ll spend my life making it up to you p>
I scrolled through the messages, completely unmoved.
Then I blocked his number.
With that handled, I finally turned my attention back to my own affairs.
I arranged to meet Uncle Chen at the hotel café.
He slid a thick stack of documents across the table.
“Miss Montgomery, here’s the full inventory of your mother’s estate–along with evidence of every asset your father illegally transferred over the years p>
I flipped through the pages slowly.
The numbers were staggering.
The projects he’d siphoned money from? Sickening.
Richard Montgomery was even greedier and more shameless than I’d imagined.
He’d bled my mother’s company dry–nearly HALF of it gone.
“Uncle Chen,” I said quietly, my voice like ice. “Is this enough to put him away for life p>
“More than enough p>
He nodded grimly.
“Embezzlement. Fraud. Money laundering. With everything here? He won’t see daylight again.” Content originally comes from
“ Good p>
I closed the folder.
“Then let’s bury him p>
Chapter 8
One week later.
Richard Montgomery was formally arrested on multiple counts of financial crimes.
Montgomery Group filed for bankruptcy.
Jade was brought in as an accomplice and held for questioning.
And her true background? The media tore it apart piece by piece.
Turns out, her mother had been nothing more than Dad’s secretary back in the day.
She got pregnant and clawed her way into the family.
But Dad never married her.
Jade–the illegitimate daughter–became the laughingstock of Manhattan’s upper crust.
Everything unfolded exactly as I’d planned.
Justice served. Revenge complete.
But I didn’t feel the satisfaction I thought I would.
I just felt… tired.
Sara Lili
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.