Chapter 2

The next morning. Top floor of Holt Group.

Ethan set a thick stack of "classified documents" in front of me, his expression uneasy.

"Ms. Linne... Mr. Holt has asked that you review these materials related to the money laundering investigation. He needs a legal mitigation strategy within three days."

I glanced at the cover.

"Ms. Linne?" I gave a short, humorless laugh.

"Didn't take long to change your tune."

Ethan lowered his head and said nothing.

Ten minutes later, I closed the file. My eyes had gone cold.

The documents were real. But the so-called "investigation targeting Holt Group" was not.

The data was riddled with inconsistencies. There was no real criminal exposure here.

At most, this was a smokescreen—fabricated by Liam to strip assets and shuffle funds.

He had invented a crisis that didn't exist, then used it to pressure me into signing those divorce papers.

The whole thing had one purpose: to get me to step aside and make room for Serena.

"Where's Liam?"

"Mr. Holt is... he's hosting a celebration for Miss Walsh."

I stood up and walked toward the conference room.

Liam stood in front of the projection screen, looking every inch the conquering hero.

The screen displayed the Southeast Asia herbal supply chain—the one I'd spent three years and nearly my life building.

"This breakthrough in our overseas supply chain was made possible entirely by Miss Walsh, who leveraged her family's connections across Southeast Asia. She is the reason Holt Group has risen from the ashes!"

Liam's voice rang out, barely containing his pride.

Serena sat beside him, smiling with practiced grace.

The executives fell over themselves to agree:

"Miss Walsh is truly remarkable—she's only just returned and she's already achieved something extraordinary!"

I stood in the doorway and watched this farcical little theft play out.

Liam spotted me. A flash of panic crossed his face, then was quickly replaced by cold dismissal.

"Ava, what are you doing here? If you're not feeling well, go rest."

He crossed the room quickly and dropped his voice low:

"Serena is officially the Head of Supply Chain now. Your job is to be a 'consultant.' Nothing more."

I looked at him, and the last flicker of warmth in my chest went out completely.

"Don't worry, Mr. Holt," I said evenly.

"I'm only here to transfer the non-performing debt portfolio."

In the divorce agreement, I had waived all rights to real estate. The only thing I took was a three-hundred-million-dollar collection of "dead debt"—debts Holt Group had been carrying overseas for years, written off as uncollectible.

When I brought it up, contempt flickered in Liam's eyes.

Those debts were loans the Walsh family had taken out overseas at punishing interest rates. Because of their age and the complicated parties involved, Liam had always treated them as worthless paper.

"Take it. Holt Group doesn't need those write-offs."

Serena walked over and reached for my hand with an air of false warmth.

"Ava, don't be angry. Liam is trying to protect you. Southeast Asia is too dangerous. From now on, leave the public-facing work to me."

Then she dropped her voice so only I could hear:

"I stole your man and your credit. Isn't that just... so embarrassing for me?"

I closed my hand around her wrist. Hard.

Serena gasped. The color drained from her face.

"Miss Walsh," I said, holding her gaze, each word deliberate:

"Southeast Asia is full of things that can bite. A woman with your delicate constitution should be very, very careful."

Liam shoved me back, stepping between me and Serena.

"Ava! What is wrong with you?!"

I took one step back and smoothed the wrinkle he'd made in my jacket.

"I'm not done yet."

I pulled out a debt transfer confirmation and dropped it on the table.

"Mr. Holt, sign this. As of right now, the three-hundred-million-dollar debt that the Walsh family owes Holt Group is formally transferred to my name—Ava Linne."

Liam signed without even reading it.

In his mind, I was venting helpless frustration. Grabbing a few scraps to get by on.

He had no idea that the Walsh family was never the elite dynasty he thought it was.

Serena's father had burned through the family fortune in Southeast Asia. The three-hundred-million-dollar IOU was backed by collateral—the Walsh family's entire equity stake in Holt Group.

I walked out of the building and dialed a number.

"Tell the debt collectors the Walsh debt is mine now."

"Starting tomorrow—maximum compounding interest. Send them to the Walsh family's front door."