Chapter 3 — Every Mask Falls

The attacker's lawyer rushed forward.

"This is a misunderstanding!"

"My client merely lost his temper."

Eleanor didn't even look at him.

"Detective."

The crowd turned.

Several homicide detectives walked through the entrance alongside financial investigators.

One officer held a thick folder.

"We've been waiting for your authorization, Miss Ashford."

She nodded once.

"You have it."

Within seconds...

Handcuffs clicked shut around the attacker's wrists.

"What are you doing?"

"You can't arrest me!"

The detective answered calmly.

"We're not arresting you only for assault."

"We're charging you with assault, corporate bribery, tax fraud, money laundering, witness intimidation, and conspiracy."

His father rushed forward.

"My family can fix this!"

Another investigator opened a second folder.

"No."

"You can't."

"Every offshore account has already been frozen."

"Every company connected to your family is under emergency investigation."

One by one...

Phones around the ballroom began ringing.

Executives looked down.

Banks were suspending accounts.

Investors were canceling contracts.

Stock prices were collapsing in real time.

The empire everyone feared...

Was falling apart before their eyes.

The father collapsed into a chair.

"It... it's over."

Eleanor looked around the room.

"You all saw what happened."

"You all chose silence."

"No one touched me."

"But every person who looked away helped him believe he could."

Not a single guest dared meet her eyes.