Chapter 1 - The Red Wine Humiliation
Dark red wine dripped continuously from Claire Morgan’s brunette updo, staining her black satin V-neck evening gown as it pooled onto the white marble floor of the Sterling Global Holdings gala ballroom.
Claire stood perfectly still beside a white marble table, surrounded by hundreds of elite Manhattan guests holding up glowing smartphones to film her disgrace under the glittering crystal chandeliers.
Standing opposite her was Olivia Harrington, wearing a lavish silver beaded champagne dress and a dazzling diamond necklace. Olivia tossed the empty crystal goblet onto the table with an arrogant smirk, pointing her finger aggressively at Claire.
"Now everyone can see what you really are!" Olivia mocked loudly, her voice echoing off the grand hall's high ceilings. "A nobody who never belonged here! You're just a washed-up ex-wife begging for scraps!"
Beside Olivia, Nathan Sterling—Claire’s ex-husband—stood in his tailored tuxedo with a cold, indifferent glare. His father, Richard Sterling, the powerful tycoon behind Sterling Global, chuckled softly in satisfaction.
Claire lowered her head for a single second, letting the dark wine drip from her chin. But she didn't break down. She didn't cry.
Slowly raising her head with unbothered composure, Claire reached into her purse and placed a sleek black folder over the wine-stained legal contract on the table.
At that exact moment, the giant presentation screen in the background flickered. The header reading "STERLING GLOBAL HOLDINGS ACQUISITION ANNOUNCEMENT" suddenly glitched, flashing bright red before displaying bold white text: "STERLING GLOBAL DEBT ACQUISITION AGREEMENT — SOLE OWNER: CLAIRE MORGAN".
May you like
Claire looked directly into Olivia's eyes, her tone calm and icy. "You thought throwing wine would destroy me, Olivia... but I just bought your family's entire debt."
👉 Read Part 2 to see the scheming betrayal that happened five years before the wine was thrown.
