Chapter 6 - The Gathering of the CrowsThree days after the collapse of the Bradsford estate, an emergency gala was called at the exclusive Crimson Club—a private establishment where the old money of the city gathered to protect their collective interests. The atmosphere inside the wood-paneled lounge was thick with tension, the usual laughter and clinking of crystal replaced by hurried, anxious debates.
Julianna Bradsford sat in a dim corner of the lounge, her expensive jewelry gone, replaced by a simple, borrowed dress that felt like a mockery of her former status. Surrounding her were several prominent investors who had barely escaped the Vance liquidation, their faces grim and calculating.
"We can't let him control the entire harbor," one investor, a ruthless real estate mogul named Thomas Sterling, hissed through grit teeth. "If Marcus Vance finalizes the maritime bond absorption, he will have the leverage to rewrite the city's zoning laws. We’ll all be at his mercy."
"Then use the girl," Julianna whispered, her voice venomous, her fingers digging into the fabric of her purse until her knuckles turned white. "Elena is his weakness. He went crazy the moment he heard what happened at the tea party. He’s emotional, he’s volatile when it comes to her."
Sterling looked at Julianna with a mixture of disgust and interest. "And what exactly do you propose, Julianna? Your family is bankrupt. You have no cards left to play."
"I have the original medical file from the public registry before it was encrypted," Julianna revealed, a wicked, desperate smile breaking through her pale face. "It contains a genetic marker report that your legal teams can use to challenge the legitimacy of the Vance heir’s corporate succession rights. It’s enough to tie up his assets in probate for years."
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The room went dead silent as the investors realized the implications of her words. It was a desperate, scorched-earth strategy, but to men who were facing financial ruin, it looked like a lifeline.
"Give us the file," Sterling commanded, leaning forward, his eyes gleaming with a cold, predatory light. "And we will ensure your family’s debts are wiped from our ledgers. Let's see how well Marcus Vance handles a war that threatens his legacy before it’s even born."
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