Her husband handed her a filthy broom in front of forty guests and said, "Now you can finally fly away from my house."

While Catherine was busy giving media interviews, Gregory was frantically trying to salvage what was left of his company, Vance Construction.

Sitting in a cramped, second-rate office near the industrial park, Gregory slammed his fists onto his desk. His corporate accountant, a nervous man named Arthur, was pale and sweating profusely behind his laptop.

"What do you mean the payroll account is frozen?!" Gregory screamed, his eyes red and bloodshot. "We have forty workers on the site at the downtown mall project! If they don't get paid by five o'clock, they’ll walk off the job!"

"Mr. Vance, the bank executed an immediate freeze order issued by the State Department of Revenue," Arthur stammered, pulling off his glasses. "When Attorney Naomi Bell filed the trust audit, the state discovered that Vance Construction’s tax identification number was fraudulently linked to Elise Thorne’s personal trust asset account. The IRS believes you were using her trust to hide taxable corporate income!"

"Unfreeze it!" Gregory roared, grabbing Arthur by his collar. "Call my personal banker! Call Judge Miller!"

"Judge Miller was recused from your case two hours ago, Gregory," a stern voice echoed from the doorway.

Gregory let go of Arthur's collar and turned around.

Standing in the doorway was Julian Croft, the primary investor of the downtown mall project and one of the most powerful businessmen in the state. Beside him stood two heavy-set men in dark suits.

"Julian!" Gregory gasped, trying to force a professional composure. "Listen, it's a minor domestic misunderstanding with my ex-wife. My legal team is handling—"

"Save it, Gregory," Julian cut him off coldly. "I read the forensic audit report published by the County Recorder this morning. You pledged the 412 Maplewood Lane property as loan collateral for my mall project, claiming you owned it outright."

Gregory swallowed hard. "Julian, please... the property value easily covers—"

"The property belongs to Elise Thorne," Julian snapped. "You signed a fraudulent land affidavit to secure a $3 million construction bond from my firm. That is federal loan fraud, Gregory."

Julian stepped into the office, placing a thick legal notice on the desk.

"Vance Construction is officially removed from the mall project," Julian declared. "My legal team has filed an emergency lien against all your commercial assets, your luxury vehicles, and your mother’s country club memberships. If you don't return the $3 million by Friday, the Sheriff's department will seize your equipment."