Chapter 4: The Fall of Julian Whitmore
The chairman of the Eleanor Ashford Foundation stepped onto the stage.
He held no prepared speech.
Only a single envelope.
"Effective immediately..."
He looked directly at Julian.
"...Mr. Julian Whitmore is removed from every position within the Foundation."
Polite applause spread through the ballroom.
Then louder.
Then louder still.
Julian tried one final time.
"You can't do this."
The chairman opened the envelope.
"We already have."
He displayed signed resolutions from every board member.
Each signature had been collected before the gala began.
Madeline had anticipated everything.
The gala itself had never been her battlefield.
It had been the courtroom where the verdict would be announced.
Police officers approached Julian.
One held out a pair of handcuffs.
Julian looked desperately toward Madeline.
"Please..."
She remained perfectly composed.
"When you brought another woman wearing my wedding tiara..."
she said quietly,
"...you believed you were taking my dignity."
She paused.
"You were actually surrendering your future."
The handcuffs clicked shut.
The sound echoed beneath the crystal chandeliers.
May you like
No one defended him.
Not one person.
