Monica couldn't believe what she was hearing on the phone or seeing on the television.
She stood frozen in the middle of the living room, silk robe loosely tied, hair still wrapped in a towel from her interrupted shower. The wide flatscreen on the wall showed a live feed of the company's lobby, now flooded with reporters, news stations, cameras flashing, microphones stretching over each other like eager hands.
"It seems there's been a shocking turn of events this morning at Caldwell Technologies," the reporter said. "Now operating as Valcore Holdings, the company was once the crown jewel of the Caldwell family. And today, it appears the last Caldwell has returned."
"Former heiress Genesis Caldwell, missing from public view for nearly fifteen years, has arrived without warning—and taken full legal control of the company."
"No official statement has been released, but internal sources say that board members were presented with verified documentation, including the original will of the late Anthony Caldwell. All verified. All binding."
Monica's fingers tightened around the phone as she watched the screen, the news anchor's words echoing in her ears.
She hit speaker, not taking her eyes off the TV.
"What the hell is happening?" she hissed.
Bryant's voice crackled through the line—full of panic. One of the board members she had paid well to stay loyal, now in full panic.
"She's back, Monica," he rasped. "I—I don't know how, but she came with her husband and that damn lawyer Dave Parker. They activated the override clause. The original will. It's real. It's all real."
"That's not possible," Monica snapped, pacing. "We buried that clause—Kni….kieran doesn't have access…"
"He does now!" Bryant cut in. "And it gets worse."
Monica stopped mid-step.
"What do you mean worse?"
"She signed everything," Bryant muttered. "The board has no power anymore. The estate, the trust, the company... even the casinos. They're digging into the accounts, Monica. Every shell company you used, every transfer. The paper trail is cleaner than I thought. Kieran Blackwood brought proof. Parker slapped it on the table like a death sentence."
The blood drained from her face.
"No," she whispered.
Bryant's voice cracked.
"They're going to seize the casinos. The auditors are already requesting access. It's over, Monica. She owns it all now. Caldwell Estate, Caldwell Tech, the casinos—you name it. It's hers."
On the screen, the camera caught a blurry image of Genesis stepping through the lobby, shoulders squared, chin lifted.
"Sources confirm that Genesis Caldwell has taken her seat as acting CEO," the reporter continued. "While the company name remains Valcore Holdings, employees and insiders are already calling it Caldwell Tech again. No comment has been issued, but across the lobby and upper floors, the message is clear—she's back to claim what's hers."
Monica's throat tightened. Her mind spun. Everything she'd built. Every lie. Every stolen dollar.
Gone.
The line was still open, but she couldn't speak.
She was frozen. Horrified.
And for the first time in years...
Monica Caldwell felt fear.
Fear of Genesis Caldwell Blackwood.
****
"What are we going to do now, Mom?" Jimmy said, pacing the room, running a hand through his hair. His eyes were wide, panicked. "We can't go back to the streets. I can't. I just… I can't."
Monica nodded slowly, mind racing. But no matter how hard she tried to think, there was nothing to do.
Mark, on the other hand, was lounging on the loveseat across the room, phone in hand, a faint smile on his lips—completely unbothered.
But he couldn't ignore the chaos for long. He stood, pocketed his phone, and walked toward them.
He smirked. "Why are your panties in a bunch, ladies? Relax."
Monica stared at him like he'd lost his mind. Jimmy ignored him and yanked out his phone, fingers trembling.
"Is something wrong with you? Must you be stupid all the time?" Monica snapped.
Mark only laughed like it was a compliment. "Mother, weren't you the one who said we'd hand everything over to Genesis?"
"I wasn't going to give her everything," she hissed. "And definitely not my hard-earned casinos. She's now the owner of every…"
She stopped. Her voice trembled.
Jimmy looked up sharply. "She's the owner, sure, but that doesn't mean she can take the casinos, right? I mean, we kept those separate. The paperwork. The shell companies. There's no way.."
"She can," Monica said quietly.
Jimmy blinked.
"She will," she whispered. "They found everything. The transfers. The fake directors. Even the account trails. Knight didn't just come back with her. He brought the whole damn blueprint. Every receipt."
Jimmy stared at her like the ground had been ripped out from under him. "So… what, you're saying it's all gone?"
Mark gave a low whistle. "Well, shit."
"Jimmy paced faster. 'No. No, no—we can't go back to the streets. I can't. Mom, say something!"
"I'm thinking!" Monica snapped.
Mark chuckled from the side. "You two are so dramatic. So what? We lost the shiny toys. We still have the gold, the diamonds we stole from Knight. Remember?"
Jimmy turned on him, eyes wild. "Are you insane? That girl just erased us in a day. Do you even know what that means?"
Mark shrugged. "It means she's better at the game. Maybe we should've killed her when we had the chance."
Monica's eyes narrowed. "We should have," she murmured. "But Knight... Knight is her personal demon. With him around, we can't get to her."
Mark's smirk faded.
The silence grew heavy. Suffocating.
Then—
The front doors slammed open.
They all turned.
And froze.
Genesis Caldwell Blackwood stepped into the room.
Knight, tall, broad, and smiling like a devil behind her. The lawyer stood at her side, calm and ready.
Genesis stopped a few feet away from them, her heart racing, fear crawling over her skin like ice but she didn't let it show.
Knight, of course, noticed. He stepped closer—not touching her, but close enough. Letting her stand on her own. Because she could.
Knight looked up, his grin widening. "Well, well. We meet again, brother-in-law."
Jimmy flinched. His body tensed. He instinctively rubbed his right hand—the one Knight had shattered.
Knight's eyes followed the motion, then slowly licked his lips.
He loved the fear.
The lawyer stepped forward, adjusting his tie, his voice smooth. "As you must already know, Genesis Caldwell—now Genesis Caldwell Blackwood—is the rightful owner of everything. The company. The estate. The trust. And yes—the casinos. Las Vegas, Reno, Atlantic City, even the offshore ones. Every last chip."
Monica stepped forward, her voice trembling. "You can't just waltz in here and throw us out.."
"We can," the lawyer said flatly. "And we will."
He tapped the document in his hand. "This is the eviction notice. You and your sons are no longer residents of the Caldwell Estate. You have until the end of today to vacate."
Jimmy choked. "You're joking—"
Knight chuckled darkly. "Does she look like she's joking?"
Genesis said nothing. Her hands trembled, but her eyes were steel.
The lawyer continued, "As for the casinos—you won't be removed completely. Not yet. Mrs. Blackwood is retaining you in minor operational roles. Think of it as… probation."
Monica recoiled. "Probation?"
Knight stepped forward, voice low and lethal. "She owns everything now, Monica. Every table, every vault, every damn dice. But instead of tossing you out like garbage, she's letting you stay. Be grateful."
Genesis didn't want to end them instantly.
She wanted them to watch her rule everything they thought they'd buried her beneath.
Mark's lips twitched. He didn't know whether to laugh or scream.
The lawyer shut the folder with a soft snap. "You'll report to her team. Follow her rules. One wrong move, and you're out. No second chances."
Jimmy lost it. "This is insane! She's mute! She hasn't spoken in fifteen years, how the hell is she going to run..?"
Genesis stepped forward.
Her gaze didn't waver.
She reached into her coat pocket, pulled out her phone, tapped the screen.
Her voice came through the speaker—smooth, clear, and venomous:
"Funny. You all had so much to say when I couldn't fight back."
The room went still.
She looked directly at Monica.
"Fifteen years in this house. Fifteen years of silence. Of abuse.
But don't worry…"
"You'll hear me now—every time I take back what you stole."
Knight's smile twisted into something darker, more satisfied.
Monica looked like she'd swallowed broken glass.
The lawyer calmly added, "You'll retain limited roles in the casinos—for now. Mrs. Blackwood believes it's only fair you stay long enough to watch her undo everything you built."
Jimmy opened his mouth, then shut it.
The lawyer finished, "But don't get comfortable. One wrong move, one missing dollar, one forged report—you're gone. No warnings."
Monica whispered, "Genesis, you…please..…"
Genesis didn't blink.
She turned.
And walked out.
And for the first time in her life, Monica Caldwell realized—
She hadn't just lost everything.
She had created her own destroyer.