Part 2:
Phoebe had barely reached the ballroom doors when Daniel’s voice cut through the silence.
“Phoebe! Wait!”
She didn’t stop.
Her grandfather placed a protective hand on her back.
But behind them, Daniel’s mother grabbed the blonde woman’s arm.
“Who told you to come in? This wasn’t the plan!”
The blonde woman’s smile vanished.
“You told me to come at 3:15. You said—”
“Quiet!” his mother hissed.
Too late.
Daniel’s father had heard everything.
He turned slowly toward his wife.
“You planned this? You knew about the merger?”
Her face went pale.
“I only wanted what was best for—”
“You destroyed us!” His voice shook.
Daniel stopped and turned back.
“Mother… what did you do?”
Before she could answer, a man in a dark suit appeared at the doorway holding a single envelope.
“Miss Sterling, this was found in Daniel’s office.”
Phoebe took it.
She opened it.
Her hands stopped.
Inside was a prenuptial agreement — already signed by Daniel.
Dated three weeks ago.
With a clause that would have transferred every Sterling asset to the Crawford family upon marriage.
Phoebe looked up slowly.
“He wasn’t just marrying me.”
“He was marrying my inheritance.”
