The Tides of Vengeance

The champagne flute slipped from my fingers, crashing against the marble floor. The sharp shatter echoed through the silent ballroom. Every pair of eyes in the grand hall was on me. The night had started perfectly. The Moreau Shipping Gala, held in the heart of Manhattan, was supposed to be a celebration—my moment. After years of relentless work, tonight was the night I would finally take my rightful place as CEO. The cameras had been flashing, guests toasting to my success, my name poised to be announced before the entire board. Then, security had stormed in. And the lead officer had spoken the words that froze my blood. “Miss Moreau, please come with us.”. I blinked, pulse hammering against my ribs. “Excuse me?”. The officer, a tall man with graying hair and a no-nonsense stare, took a measured step forward. The gold badge on his chest gleamed under the chandelier lights. “Alessa Moreau,” he repeated, voice firm. “You're under investigation for financial crimes, including fraud and embezzlement. We need you to come with us immediately.”. A gasp rippled through the crowd. Someone whispered my name. I caught the rustling of silk gowns as guests shifted uncomfortably, some leaning in for a better view, others raising their phones. The scent of expensive perfume mixed with the tension that had thickened the air, suffocating, cloying. My breath hitched. “This has to be a mistake.”. I turned, scanning the sea of faces, searching for the only person who could put a stop to this madness. Damien. My brother stood near the stage, his black tux crisp, his stance relaxed—too relaxed. His hands were clasped behind his back, his expression unreadable. And then, as if he'd been waiting for this very moment, his lips curled into something that sent ice splintering through my veins. A smirk. No. The blood drained from my face. This wasn't a misunderstanding. This wasn't some administrative error. This was him. He did this. A heavy hand clamped around my arm. “Miss Moreau—”. I stumbled, my feet against the smooth surface of the floor. "This is your fault," I said more loudly this time. My voice didn't shake. No action has been taken yet. Despite the background noise, Damien's voice was like a blade. “Alessa...”. He moved forward slowly with his shoulders bowed and his expression was now more mournful. His countenance? He ascended to the microphone at the podium, facing the audience. "I'm deeply sorry," he expelled, his heart breaking. "This befell my sister so much that I couldn't have foreseen it.". My stomach lurched. The murmurs grew louder. Media focused, cameras focusing on the subject. The. A sudden surge of energy caused my heart to drop down against my chest. “Damien, don’t.”. There was no indication of his eye contact with me. "This is a sad day for Moreau Shipping," he declared, shaking his head, the perfect expression for expressing the sorrow of relocating an Australian sibling. "I will be taking on the role of interim CEO as we investigate the full extent of Alessa's offenses.". Crimes. I was unable to hear the word, which made everything else sound worse. I opened my mouth, but there was no response. I was deeply affected by the cold, razor-sharp betrayal that sliced through me. My voice remained silent as I said, "Damien," but then I couldn't say anything more. "Why?". This time he looked at me.? I saw the answer with a dark eye, and it was him. The truth was that I had been blind. What happened?... This had never been about the company. It had been about power. I had lost everything. Hands clinging to my arms as the guards came in again. "No," I replied, hardened against their might. “You can't make it this far!". I built this company! I sacrificed everything—”. Damien's voice was now cold as it had been. Final. I gnawed, my bones in my joints. "You're like a bastard.". He smiled. “Take her away.”. After the officers pulled me towards the exit, I saw a multitude of guests staring at them from different directions, some with shock and others with pure joy for witnessing the fall of. Standing tall like a monarch before his empire, Damien stood out among them. Watching me fall.