Chapter 10
The digital screen on the wall turned solid green.
A synthesized notification tone echoed through the silent boutique, followed by the faint chime of incoming message alerts from dozens of external devices.
Julian’s discarded smartphone, lying on the marble floor near the broken glass, began to buzz continuously.
Then, Julian’s personal phone buzzed in his coat pocket.
Then, the emergency broadcast alert tone trilled from the street outside, where several cars had pulled over to the curb.
Julian slowly reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.
The screen was flooded with notifications: financial news tickers, emergency SEC freeze alerts, and hundreds of missed calls from board members and legal counsel.
"It’s out," Julian whispered, his knees buckling.
He slid down the glass counter until he was sitting on the floor among the crystal shards.
"The federal investigation units have the entire naval tribunal file."
Victoria looked down at him with a mixture of pity and profound disgust.
"You built your entire life on a foundation of sinking ships, Julian," Victoria said softly.
"You thought you could buy absolution with a bespoke dress and a high-society wedding."
She reached up and unclipped the diamond earrings from her lobes, placing them neatly on the glass display case.
Then, she unbuttoned her sharp white blazer and let it slip from her shoulders, letting it pool on the floor beside Julian’s feet.
Underneath, she wore a simple, dark silk camisole.
She looked entirely different—stripped of the corporate armor and high-fashion pretense.
"Where are you going?" Julian asked, his voice trembling as he looked up at her.
"The wedding is off," Victoria replied simply.
"And I have a train to catch."
"To where?" Julian demanded, panic surging through him again.
"To the coast," Victoria said.
"To the naval archive office in Norfolk.
I want to see the original salvage records for myself."
She turned away from him, walking toward the open front door.
May you like
The rain was falling harder now, drumming a steady, heavy beat against the pavement outside.
As she stepped out into the cool night air, a familiar black SUV idled by the curb, its hazard lights blinking rhythmically through the mist.
