CHAPTER 33: THE COST OF EXPOSURE
The scandal spread across New York before sunrise. By the time the first wave of commuters filled the streets, Sebastian Hale’s face dominated every financial network, every online headline, and every business discussion in the city. Reporters called it a corporate war. Analysts called it the collapse of elite power structures. Social media called it entertainment. But inside Sebastian’s penthouse, none of it felt dramatic or distant. It felt dangerous. Vivian stood barefoot in the living room wearing one of Sebastian’s oversized shirts, her eyes fixed on the television while reporters replayed footage from the gala again and again. The moment Sebastian exposed Adrian Cross had already become public history. Some outlets praised his courage. Others painte
