Another donor followed him.
Then another.
Within five minutes, half the room had emptied.
Vivian watched them leave.
“They’re overreacting.”
“No,” I said.
“They’re protecting themselves.”
She slammed both hands onto the table.
“You planned this.”
“I planned to marry you.”
I looked directly at her.
“You planned everything else.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“You’ve been investigating my family.”
“I’ve been performing due diligence.”
Charles scoffed.
“You’re trying to destroy us.”
I shook my head.
“No.”
“You were already doing that.”
“I simply stopped paying for it.”
The following morning, the financial world began asking questions.
Banks suspended pending loans.
Two credit-rating agencies announced reviews.
Several board members resigned from Ashcroft Capital before noon.
News outlets reported “significant governance concerns.”
The company insisted everything was under control.
The market disagreed.
By closing bell, their stock had fallen nearly thirty percent.
