Vanessa's POV
The champagne glass slipped from my hand.
I didn't hear it shatter. I couldn't hear anything over the roaring in my ears as I stared at the massive screen behind the stage, the screen that was supposed to display our merger announcement. Instead, it showed a photo of Marcus kissing my cousin Lily.
What— The word died in my throat.
Five hundred guests filled the Grand Hotel ballroom. Five hundred pairs of eyes turned from the screen to me, standing alone at the front in my white engagement dress. The dress I'd chosen for tonight. The night Marcus and I were supposed to announce our company merger and engagement.
Marcus stood at the microphone, his hand wrapped around Lily's waist. My cousin. My own blood. She wore a diamond ring that caught the light, my grandmother's ring. The one Marcus borrowed last week to get it cleaned.
My brain couldn't process what I was seeing.
I know this is unexpected, Marcus said into the microphone, his voice smooth as silk. But Lily and I are engaged.
The room exploded with gasps and whispers. Someone near me whispered, Oh my God, poor Vanessa.
I wanted to run. To scream. To disappear. But my legs wouldn't move.
Marcus wasn't finished. He turned to face the crowd, his expression serious. I also need to address something important. There have been rumors about Chen Technologies' AI code the code that made us millions. The truth is... He paused for effect. Vanessa didn't create it. I did.
My heart stopped.
What? I finally found my voice, but it came out as a whisper.
For two years, I've let Vanessa take credit for my work, Marcus continued, his voice growing louder. I've watched her become the face of Chen Technologies while I stayed in the shadows. But I can't do it anymore. The code, the patents, the algorithms—all mine. Vanessa Chen built her empire on stolen work.
The crowd erupted. Cameras flashed. Reporters surged forward, shouting questions.
That's a lie! I screamed, but my voice was drowned out by the chaos.
Security guards appeared on both sides of me. Where did they come from?
Ms. Chen, please come with us, one said, gripping my elbow.
No! I need to—Marcus, tell them the truth! I tried to pull away, but the guard's grip tightened.
Lily stepped up to the microphone, her voice sweet and sad. We didn't want it to come out this way. But Vanessa left us no choice. She threatened to destroy Marcus if he ever told the truth.
I never—that's insane! I shouted as the guards pulled me toward the side exit.
The last thing I saw before they pushed me through the door was Lily holding up her left hand, my grandmother's ring sparkling under the lights, while Marcus wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
The heavy doors slammed shut behind me, cutting off the noise of the ballroom. I stood in the empty hallway, my chest heaving, my mind spinning.
This couldn't be real. This had to be a nightmare.
My phone started vibrating in my clutch. I pulled it out with shaking hands. Notifications flooded the screen—texts, emails, social media alerts. All of them coming in so fast I couldn't read them.
Then I saw the stock ticker notification.
Chen Technologies: Down 43% in after-hours trading.
No, no, no, no. My knees buckled. I grabbed the wall to stay upright.
Another notification: my company email. Subject line: Emergency Board Meeting Called.
I opened it with trembling fingers.
Due to serious allegations regarding intellectual property theft and fraud, the Chen Technologies Board of Directors has called an emergency meeting for 9 AM tomorrow to discuss Ms. Vanessa Chen's position as CEO.
The hallway tilted. I couldn't breathe. This wasn't happening. This couldn't be happening.
My phone rang. Dad. Finally. He would help me fix this.
Dad I choked out.
How could you? His voice was ice-cold. How could you disgrace our family like this?
I didn't do anything! Marcus is lying
I watched you on that stage. I saw the proof Marcus is about to release. Documents, Vanessa. He has documents showing you stole his work.
What documents? Dad, please, you have to believe me
Don't call this house again. You've brought enough shame to the Chen name.
The line went dead.
I stared at my phone, unable to process what just happened. My own father. He didn't even let me explain.
More notifications poured in. I scrolled through them with numb fingers.
Twitter: #FakeCEO trending worldwide.
Instagram: Photos of me being escorted out by security, captioned FRAUD EXPOSED.
LinkedIn: Investors posting about pulling funding from Chen Technologies.
My email dinged again. This time from Marcus. The subject line made my blood run cold: Final Notice.
I opened it.
Vanessa,
Effective immediately, you are terminated from Chen Technologies. Building security has been notified. Your access cards are deactivated. Your personal belongings will be removed from the office and delivered to your residence by end of business tomorrow.
Don't bother fighting this. I have everything I need to prove you're a fraud. Lawyers, documents, witnesses. You can't win.
Consider this a mercy. I could have had you arrested.
Marcus
The phone slipped from my fingers and clattered to the marble floor.
Everything was gone. My company. My reputation. My family. My future.
All of it, destroyed in fifteen minutes.
I pressed my back against the cold wall and slid down until I was sitting on the floor, my white dress pooling around me like a broken cloud.
The ballroom doors burst open. Marcus stepped out, Lily still attached to his arm. They saw me on the floor and smiled.
Actually smiled.
Oh, Vanessa, Lily said, her voice dripping with fake sympathy. You look so sad. But don't worry—we'll take good care of the company.
Marcus adjusted his tie, looking down at me like I was dirt on his shoe. You should have stayed in your place. Pretty faces don't build empires. Real genius does.
They walked past me toward the exit, Lily's laughter echoing off the marble walls.
I sat there, frozen, destroyed, alone.
Then my phone buzzed one more time.
I almost didn't look. What could possibly make this worse?
But I picked it up anyway.
A text from an unknown number: Ms. Chen, one more thing.
My screen lit up with a live stream. The ballroom stage. Marcus stood at the microphone again, the crowd's attention fixed on him.
His voice came through my phone's speaker, crystal clear.
Ms. Chen, one more thing. He smiled directly at the camera. You're fired.
The crowd erupted in shocked gasps and applause.
And I realized—he'd planned this moment. Timed it. Wanted me to hear those words alone, broken, with nothing left.
My hands curled into fists, the phone screen cracking under the pressure.
Something inside me snapped.
Not broke. Snapped.
I would burn his world down.