Chapter 2: Every Secret Comes to Light

My father never raised his voice.

He simply walked past every billionaire in the room until he stood beside me.

His eyes softened for only a second.

"Are you hurt?"

"I'll be fine."

He gently touched the bruise on my cheek.

Then he turned toward the guests.

"The gala has officially become a crime scene."

Nobody moved.

Investigators separated every guest.

Every phone was collected.

Every security recording was copied.

Then the financial crimes unit entered.

Several executives laughed nervously.

"This has nothing to do with us."

My father nodded.

"You're right."

"It has everything to do with the offshore accounts you've been hiding for seven years."

The laughter stopped.

Search warrants were read aloud.

Company records.

Money laundering.

Tax fraud.

Political bribery.

Insider trading.

The gala had unknowingly gathered nearly every suspect in one room.

Months of surveillance had led to this single night.

The assault against me wasn't the original mission.

It simply gave my father legal grounds to seal the exits before anyone destroyed evidence.

One businessman collapsed into a chair.

Another quietly began crying.

Several politicians demanded immunity.

None received it.

Meanwhile, the man who assaulted me stared at me with bloodshot eyes.

"You planned this..."

I shook my head.

"No."

"You planned your own downfall the moment you believed money made you untouchable."

An officer stepped forward.

"You are under arrest for aggravated assault."

Another officer continued.

"And for attempting to intimidate witnesses."

The handcuffs clicked shut.

His confident smile disappeared forever.

Around him, dozens of others heard the same words.

"You are under arrest."

One after another...

The empire began to fall.