Chapter 8 - The Falling Cards
By winter, the drama reached its climax. Ashley attempted to sue Gregory for fraud and misrepresentation, claiming he had tricked her into marriage under false financial pretenses. In response, Gregory released text messages revealing Ashley had intentionally leaked company trade secrets to a competitor months earlier to force a drop in stock price—hoping to buy shares cheaply before their wedding.
The mutual destruction was absolute. As news outlets covered the fallout of the disgraced executive and his socialite bride, Madeline focused her energy entirely on restructuring the company into a transparent, ethics-first logistics powerhouse renamed Aura Global.
She moved into a light-filled home overlooking Puget Sound, where the sound of the ocean replaced the chaotic noise of her past life.
