Chapter 8 - The Penniless Puppet
"You set me up!" Julian wept, utterly stripped of his power, his pride, and his dignity. "You let me fight for the prenup! You let me demand that we keep our separate assets!"
"You demanded a clean break, Julian," Claire replied clinically, stepping closer to him. "You wanted to ensure I didn't touch your wealth. But the wealth was never yours. By forcing me to sign that finalized divorce decree ten minutes ago, you completely severed your legal right to my company."
Julian dropped to his knees on the polished marble floor. The expensive charcoal suit crumpled around him.
"I have nothing," Julian choked out, tears of apocalyptic ruin streaming down his face. "My bank accounts are tied to the corporate line of credit. You took the house. You took my job. I am completely bankrupt!"
Lila’s jaw unhinged. She stared at the weeping, pathetic forty-year-old man on the floor. He wasn't a billionaire CEO anymore. He was an unemployed, homeless fraud.
"Julian, you told me we were going to Paris next week!" Lila panicked, her voice shrill with toxic rage. "You told me you bought the house!"
"Lila, please," Julian sobbed, reaching his trembling hand up toward the young blonde woman. "I love you. We can start over."
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Lila looked at him with pure, unfiltered disgust.
👉 Lila completely turned on him, leaving the arrogant mother-in-law to face the catastrophic reality alone.
