Chapter 1: Five Minutes Later, the Empire Began to Fall
Chapter 1: Five Minutes Later, the Empire Began to Fall
The silence after Victoria ended the call felt heavier than the two hundred lashes.
Adrian stared at her with a mocking smile that no longer reached his eyes.
"You think one phone call will scare me?"
Victoria didn't answer.
She simply placed the phone on the marble floor beside her and slowly stood despite the pain tearing through her back.
Vanessa laughed softly.
"She's finally gone insane."
Then...
The grandfather clock in the hallway chimed once.
Exactly five minutes.
A deep vibration rolled beneath the mansion.
Moments later, headlights flooded the enormous windows.
One.
Two.
Five.
Ten.
More than twenty identical black armored SUVs swept through the front gates.
Their tires stopped in perfect formation.
The estate's private security rushed toward the entrance.
Before anyone reached the front doors...
Every one of them lowered their weapons.
Standing outside was a man in a charcoal suit.
Silver hair.
Perfect posture.
No expression.
Adrian recognized him instantly.
"Impossible..."
The man wasn't a police officer.
He wasn't military.
He was Charles Donovan.
Chief of Security for the Ashford International Group.
One of the largest private business empires in the world.
Only one person could command him.
Victoria's father.
The front doors opened.
Not kicked.
Opened politely.
Charles stepped inside with twenty armed executive security officers behind him.
He stopped exactly three feet from Victoria.
Then bowed.
"Miss Ashford."
"We're sorry we arrived five minutes later than your father's order."
The room froze.
Vanessa nearly dropped her champagne glass.
Adrian looked from Charles...
To Victoria...
Then back again.
"You... you're an Ashford?"
Victoria slowly met his eyes.
"For three years..."
"You never once asked my maiden name."
Charles raised one hand.
Immediately, two security officers collected the leather riding crop into an evidence bag.
Another carefully photographed every wound on Victoria's body.
Every drop of blood.
Every broken piece of furniture.
Every shattered illusion.
No one spoke.
Except Charles.
"Everything has been documented."
May you like
"Operation Black Crown begins now."
Adrian's confidence disappeared for the first time.
