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Unzipping my sister's wedding gown at the bridal boutique, my blood turned to ice. Her spine was covered in fresh, bloody lash marks. """"I can't cancel the wedding! His billionaire father will bankrupt our family,"""" she sobbed. I smiled coldly, wiping her tears. """"Then we won't cancel,"""" I whispered. They thought I was just a powerless sister. They didn't know what I did for a living. When the arrogant groom smugly walked down the aisle, he wasn't greeted by a bride... / Chapter 4 / 4

Part 4 — The Empire Falls

Harrison Sterling tried to leave.

But the doors opened.

Not for him.

For the authorities.

Several investigators entered.

The guests gasped.

Harrison stared at me.

“You planned this.”

I looked at him.

“No.”

I shook my head.

“Your own actions planned this.”

Julian turned to his father.

“Dad…”

But Harrison stepped away from him.

For the first time, Julian looked afraid.

Because he realized something.

His father wasn’t going to save him.

Not anymore.

“You promised you could handle her,” Harrison whispered angrily.

Julian looked shocked.

“You told me she was powerless!”

I almost laughed.

There it was.

The truth.

The thing powerful people always forgot.

They confused kindness with weakness.

I stepped beside Lily.

“She wasn’t powerless.”

I looked at Julian.

“She was surrounded by people who loved her.”

The investigators approached Harrison.

“You’re under investigation for fraud, coercion, and multiple cases of abuse.”

The billionaire who controlled everyone…

finally lost control.

Months later, Lily stood in our parents’ backyard.

No wedding dress.

No fear.

Just herself.

The Sterling empire collapsed.

Their companies were investigated.

Their secrets exposed.

And the women they hurt finally had their voices back.

Lily looked at me.

“You really knew all along?”

I smiled.

“No.”

She laughed.

“Then how were you so calm?”

I looked at her.

“Because the moment I saw those marks on your back…”

I paused.

“I knew one thing.”

“What?”

“No one was going to touch my sister again.”

Lily hugged me.

And for the first time in months…

she was free.

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