Chapter 2: The Fall Begins
Ava spent the night in a private medical suite owned by Marlowe Holdings.
The baby was safe.
That was the only thing that mattered.
But while doctors monitored her condition, Jonathan Whitcomb and a team of forensic accountants worked through thousands of financial records.
By sunrise, they had enough evidence to destroy Landon Pierce.
The emergency board meeting began at 9:00 a.m.
Landon arrived wearing a navy suit and a confident smile.
Sienna sat beside him, dressed in white and dripping with diamonds.
Neither knew what was waiting.
As soon as Landon entered the conference room, he froze.
At the head of the table sat Ava.
Alive.
Calm.
And very much in control.
The color drained from his face.
"Ava?"
Sienna's jaw dropped.
"You were supposed to be—"
She stopped herself.
Ava smiled.
"Dead?"
Silence filled the room.
Jonathan stood.
"As of midnight, Miss Ava Marlowe became sole owner of Marlowe Holdings and majority shareholder of Pierce Development."
Landon laughed nervously.
"That's impossible."
Jonathan slid a folder across the table.
"Read page three."
Landon opened it.
His hands began shaking.
Every share he controlled had been transferred through a clause hidden inside the merger agreement years ago.
A clause tied to Ava's inheritance.
Without Ava, he had power.
With Ava, he had none.
The room erupted in whispers.
Then came the audit.
Wire transfers.
Fake invoices.
Shell companies.
Millions of dollars missing.
Every trail led to two names.
Landon Pierce.
Sienna Vale.
The board members stared in horror.
One elderly director removed his glasses.
"Tell me this isn't true."
No one answered.
Because it was.
And everyone knew it.
Security entered ten minutes later.
Landon was escorted out of his own company while employees watched from the hallways.
For the first time in his life, he looked afraid.
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But Ava wasn't finished.
Not even close.
