Chapter 5 - Kneel

As the guards dragged a screaming Brenda out of the boardroom, Margaret collapsed into one of the leather chairs, weeping hysterically.

"Mariana, my dear, sweet daughter-in-law," Margaret sobbed, reaching out a trembling hand toward me. "I always knew you were special! I was just tough on you to prepare you for high society! Please, you can't take our home!"

I looked at the woman who had spent four years making my life a living hell.

"You warned me, Margaret," I said coldly. "You said you can dress someone in designer clothes, but you can never change their blood. You were right. I am an Escalante. And Escalantes do not show mercy to those who bite the hand that feeds them. Your trust fund is liquidated. You are officially bankrupt."

Margaret wailed, burying her face in her hands.

I looked down at Andrew. He was still on his knees, staring up at me with absolute despair. The powerful, arrogant man from last night was gone. In his place was a pathetic, broken shell of a man who realized he had thrown away the only real thing he ever had.

"Mariana, I love you," he cried, trying to grab the hem of my suit pants. "I'll do anything. I'll sign whatever you want. Just give me another chance. I'll be the husband you deserve!"

I stepped back, out of his reach.

"You ordered me to kneel last night, Andrew," I whispered, staring down at him. "You ordered me to crawl."

He sobbed, bowing his head until it practically touched the floor. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I'm kneeling! Look, I'm kneeling!"

"I see you," I said, my voice completely devoid of emotion.

I turned my back on him and walked toward the door.

"Mariana! Wait! Where are you going?!" Andrew screamed, his voice echoing in the massive boardroom. "What happens to me?!"

I stopped at the doorway, glancing over my shoulder one last time.

"You go back to being exactly what you were before I saved you," I said. "Nothing."

I walked out of the boardroom, the heavy glass doors sliding shut behind me, cutting off his pathetic cries.

My father was waiting for me in the executive corridor, holding out a glass of vintage champagne.

"Is it done?" he asked.

"It's done," I replied, taking the glass.

I took a sip, feeling the crisp, cold luxury slide down my throat. I didn't feel sad. I didn't feel broken.

May you like

The Architecture of Isolation

My Brother Called Me a Navy Dropout—Then His General Looked at Me and Sa...

I Trained Marines for 15 Years—Then My Daughter’s Boyfriend Put Her in t...

I felt free.

The ordinary wife who endured their cruelty was dead. The queen had finally reclaimed her throne, and the empire was entirely mine.