Chapter 4: The Runway Collapse
The public fallout was catastrophic for Marissa Blake. Within forty-eight hours of the boardroom coup, leaked financial reports hit Wall Street detailing how her modeling agency had drained millions from Ashford Meridian’s corporate accounts. The media narrative flipped instantly: Marissa was no longer the glamorous savior of Reid's lifestyle; she was the gold-digging distraction that had almost brought down a billion-dollar legacy.
Inside the penthouse, a ferocious argument was tearing through the remaining pieces of their relationship.
"You promised me a global lifestyle empire, Reid!" Marissa screamed, throwing a crystal vase against the floor, shattering it into pieces. "Now the media is calling me a corporate liability! High fashion brands are dropping my contracts! I was replaced as the face of the Paris Spring campaign this morning!"
"You hid my children from me!" Reid roared back, his face flushed with a terrifying, primal fury. He grabbed her by the arm, forcing her to look at him. "You answered my phone, you threatened Claire, and you kept me from knowing I had twin sons! Because of your greed, I lost control of my company!"
"I did it to protect our future!" Marissa shrieked, breaking out of his grip. "Those brats would have ruined everything! You were supposed to be mine, Reid! Your money, your name, your status—it all belonged to me!"
"Get out," Reid said, his voice dropping to a deadly, quiet register.
Marissa froze, her eyes widening. "What did you say?"
"I said, pack your things and get out of my sight," Reid whispered, pointing toward the door. "The engagement is off. The wedding is cancelled. I am calling my security team to remove your belongings by sunset. I never want to see your face again."
Realizing she had pushed him too far, Marissa tried to shift back into her victim persona, tears spilling over her mascara. "Reid, honey, I was just stressed... I love you..."
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"You love my bank account, Marissa," Reid said coldly, turning his back on her. "But as of today, that bank account belongs to Claire Donovan's sons. Goodbye."
By evening, Marissa Blake was photographed by paparazzi leaving the penthouse with four suitcases, her modeling career and her social status completely ruined. She had tried to claim a throne built on someone else's pain, and she had ended up with nothing but the dust.
