711 Beyond the Gilded Glass and Frozen Accounts: A High-Stakes Narrative of Corporate Revenge, Unforgiven Betrayal, and a Woman’s Ultimate Reclamation

The phone vibrated against her palm, the screen flashing Dominic's face in a tight, frantic close-up.

Evelyn stared at it, her thumb hovering over the decline button. Julian didn't say a word; he simply gestured toward the phone with his chin, his expression an absolute mask of professional curiosity.

"Answer it," Julian murmured quietly. "Let him see that you aren't running away. Let him see that you've already found better company."

Evelyn swiped her thumb across the screen and hit accept, holding the phone steady at arm's length.

Dominic’s face filled the display, but the smooth, polished corporate facade was entirely gone. His hair was disheveled, his tie ripped off completely, and he was standing in the middle of their grand penthouse study with the desk drawers pulled completely out, papers scattered across the Persian rug like snow.

"Where are you?" Dominic hissed, his voice cracking with unfiltered panic. "Evelyn, where the hell are your encrypted backup drives? The external drives from the safe behind the painting—did you take them? Tell me you didn't touch them!"

"Looking for something, Dominic?" Evelyn asked, her voice calm, chillingly detached.

On the screen, Dominic froze. He looked past her camera feed, trying to decipher the background behind her. The polished marble pillars and amber chandeliers of the Bellamy Grand lobby flickered in the video reflection.

"Is that... are you still in the hotel?" Dominic demanded, his breath coming in shallow, ragged gasps. "Who are you with? Evelyn, put the phone down and come back upstairs right now, or I swear to God—"

"You'll what?" Evelyn interrupted, a cold edge cutting into her tone. "Call the board? Tell them your wife ruined your career? Too late, Dominic. I think your business associates are already well aware of your extracurricular activities."

She tilted the phone slightly, catching Julian Rhodes standing just at the edge of the frame, lifting his crystal tumbler in a silent, mocking toast to the screen.

Dominic’s eyes widened to the size of saucers. Color drained entirely from his face until he looked like a corpse under the harsh study lights.

"Julian?" Dominic choked out, his voice pitching high in utter terror. "Rhodes? You're with him?"

"Always choose the winning side, Dominic," Julian said clearly into the microphone. "See you at the deposition."