Chapter 8 - The Fall of the Hale Dynasty
Absolute, terrifying chaos erupted inside the council chamber.
Boss Marcone and Boss Luciani instantly turned their glares onto Dominic Hale, their faces twisting into white-hot fury. Skimming collective tariffs was the cardinal sin of the underworld—an offense punishable by total forfeiture of all assets and death.
"What?!" Boss Marcone bellowed, slamming his gavel so hard the wooden block cracked. "Dominic! Is this true?!"
"No! It’s a lie! It’s a forged document!" Dominic screamed, his hands shaking violently as he backed away from the table. "She’s a maid! How could she know about Panama?!"
Ronan stood up beside Ivy, resting his hands casually on the back of her chair.
"Because my fiancée happens to be brilliant with numbers, Dominic," Ronan said coolly, leaning forward. "She managed the entire supply and logistics inventory of my estate for three years. She saw the discrepancies in your dock manifests before my own accountants did."
Matteo, standing at the rear entrance, pressed a button on a remote control.
The massive projection screens above the council table flickered to life. Instantly, crystal-clear video played showing Vivienne maliciously whipping Ivy in the ballroom, her cruel voice echoing loudly through the speakers. Beside the video, bank statements detailing Dominic’s offshore Panama accounts flashed in high resolution for every boss in the room to read.
The elevated gallery burst into loud roars of condemnation. The high-society patrons who had scoffed at Ivy minutes ago were now pointing fingers of disgust at Vivienne and Dominic.
"Lies! It's all lies!" Vivienne shrieked, losing her mind completely. She reached into her gold purse, pulled out a small pearl-handled derringer pistol, and aimed it directly at Ivy’s chest. "You fat bitch! I’ll kill you!"
BANG!
Before Vivienne’s finger could pull the trigger, a gunshot echoed through the high ceilings.
Vivienne let out a painful cry as her pearl-handled pistol was shot clean out of her hand, spinning across the floor.
Ronan stood with his gun raised, smoke curling from the barrel. His eyes were cold, dead, and lethal.
"Seize them," Boss Marcone commanded the neutral council guards. "Dominic Hale and Vivienne Hale are hereby stripped of all syndicate holdings, docks, and titles. They are banished from this city under penalty of death!"
Eight heavy council guards rushed forward, slamming Dominic and Vivienne onto the floor, pulling their arms behind their backs and snapping heavy steel handcuffs over their wrists.
Vivienne wept hysterically, her gold dress ruined, her hair wild as she was dragged past Ivy. "Ronan! Please! Save me! Don't let them do this!"
Ronan didn't even grant her a glance. He stood beside Ivy, his arm wrapping securely around her waist, drawing her flush against his side.
Boss Marcone stood up, looking at Ivy with profound, newly discovered respect. He raised his glass of wine toward her.
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"The High Council recognizes the intelligence, bravery, and dignity of Ivy Lancaster," Marcone announced loudly to the assembly. "We officially approve her union with Ronan Blackwood!"
The entire chamber erupted into thunderous applause, the lieutenants and bosses standing up to honor the woman who had brought down a corrupt dynasty in a single afternoon.
