THE GLASS HEIR

Arthur’s silence stretched across the boardroom like an impending storm. Victoria leaned forward, her voice hardening. "Arthur, don't let sentimentality ruin thirty years of expansion. Sign the merger documents. We can settle the boy's living expenses quietly out of court."

"My grandson is not an out-of-court settlement," Arthur said quietly. He placed the papers down and slid them away from Victoria. "The merger is canceled."

The room erupted into chaos. Victoria stood up so abruptly her chair scraped against the hardwood. "You just signed the death warrant of Sterling Global. My father will call in every note, every loan, every credit line before the market closes."

"Let him try," Julian countered, stepping between Victoria and his son. "Your father’s offshore accounts in the Cayman Islands were audited this morning. Clara’s medical records weren’t the only files left in Elena’s archive."

Victoria froze. Her pristine composure fractured, revealing a flash of genuine panic. "You wouldn't dare."

"Elena was a brilliant biochemist before she was my partner," Julian said calmly. "She discovered that your father's pharmaceutical division was falsifying trial data to inflate merger evaluations. She kept digital backups in a private trust vault."

Clara took Ewan’s hand, leading him gently toward the panoramic window to shield him from the venom in the room. The little boy pointed at a passing helicopter, oblivious to the financial earthquake tearing through the skyscraper.

Victoria grabbed her designer bag, glaring at Julian with venomous disdain. "You think you’ve won because you made a noble speech? A boy needs more than truth to survive, Julian. He needs armor. Let's see how long your little family lasts when the wolves smell blood."