Eight months pregnant, I stood beside my billionaire father’s coffin when my husband walked into the funeral holding his mistress’s hand. He leaned close and whispered, “Your father is dead. You’re worthless now. I’m taking everything.” His mistress smirked as tears filled my eyes. But neither of them knew what my father had secretly left me. When his attorney approached the coffin and opened a black envelope, my husband’s smile vanished...

"It’s not a setup, Caleb," I said calmly, opening the black leather binder retrieved from my father’s vault. "It’s a comprehensive forensic record authorized by the Department of Justice and executed by my father over the last six months of his life."

I turned my gaze toward Vanessa, who was shrinking behind Caleb’s shoulder.

"And speaking of Croft Holdings," I continued, "Miss Croft, your employment as Director of Marketing is terminated effective immediately for gross misconduct, breach of fiduciary duty, and corporate espionage."

"You can't fire me!" Vanessa shrieked, losing her polished facade. "Caleb signed my five-year contract! There is a multi-million dollar severance package!"

"Your contract was signed by an executive who lacked legal authority," Harlan said smoothly, handing a second document to the federal marshals. "Furthermore, the lease on the penthouse at the Grand Horizon, the Maybach registered in your name, and the jewelry purchased on Vance corporate charge cards are classified as stolen corporate property. Marshals, you may proceed."

Two officers stepped forward. One presented a seizure warrant to Vanessa.

"Miss Croft, we require your corporate keycards, your mobile phone, and the keys to the vehicle currently parked in the lower garage," the marshal stated.

"Caleb! Do something!" Vanessa cried, grabbing Caleb’s arm, her perfectly manicured nails digging into his wool sleeve. "You promised me she couldn't touch us! You said she was weak!"

Caleb shoved her away violently. "Shut up, Vanessa!"

He slammed both palms onto the table, leaning across toward me, his veins bulging against his neck. "You think you’ve won, Eleanor? You think you can manage this company alone? The market opens in fifteen minutes! The news of Arthur’s death and these allegations will tank the stock by thirty percent! You’ll be bankrupt before your baby is born!"

I smiled. It was the first time I had smiled since my father took his last breath.

"The market doesn't panic when an empire cuts out a parasite, Caleb," I replied coldly. "The market rallies."

I raised my hand. "All directors in favor of immediately expelling Caleb Sterling from the Board of Directors and revoking all executive titles, raise your hand."