In the vaulted grand hall of the Montgomery Estate, a shockwave of silence rippled through the gathered Montgomery Clan. Dame Beatrice and her relatives stood frozen, their expressions shifting from calculating hostility to a state of raw, unadulterated ecstasy.
The logic was simple, yet overwhelming. If Cynthia Chandler was transferring the equity to Serena Montgomery, it was functionally equivalent to returning the stolen heart of their empire to the family—and with an international logistics firm thrown in as a "signing bonus." For the struggling dynasty, this wasn't just a recovery; it was a resurrection.
However, before the celebrations could truly erupt, Cynthia adjusted the lapel of her tailored blazer, her eyes sweeping the room with a cold, corporate detachment. "Ms. Montgomery,
