Chapter 4: The Fall of the Caldwell Family
Chapter 4: The Fall of the Caldwell Family
By noon, every major financial newspaper carried the same headline.
Caldwell Holdings Loses Control After Hidden Majority Shareholder Takes Over
Television crews surrounded Andrew's mansion.
Banks began repossessing luxury vehicles.
Private security resigned after their contracts were terminated.
Even the electricity supplier suspended several corporate accounts.
Inside the mansion...
Panic replaced arrogance.
Brenda screamed as movers entered the house.
"You can't touch my things!"
A lawyer calmly handed her an official document.
"Those items belong to Escalante Holdings."
Margaret collapsed into a chair.
"This can't be happening."
Andrew drove directly to Escalante Global.
He demanded to see Mariana.
For three hours...
He waited.
Finally, the doors opened.
Mariana entered wearing a charcoal business suit.
No jewelry except her wedding ring.
She looked exactly like the woman he'd married.
Except now...
She looked untouchable.
Andrew fell to his knees.
Exactly where he had once ordered her to kneel.
"I'm sorry."
She said nothing.
"I made a terrible mistake."
Still...
Nothing.
"I love you."
Mariana slowly removed her wedding ring.
She placed it on the conference table between them.
"You loved having someone beneath you."
"You never loved me."
Andrew reached toward her.
She stepped back.
"The woman you humiliated died the moment you raised your hand."
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Security quietly escorted him from the building.
He never looked back.
