CHAPTER 2 — THE WOMAN THEY THREW INTO THE SNOW RETURNED WITH AN EMPIRE
CHAPTER 2 — THE WOMAN THEY THREW INTO THE SNOW RETURNED WITH AN EMPIRE
The black sedan stopped inches from the curb, its headlights cutting through the blizzard like searchlights.
Before the driver could even open the door, two people hurried toward Anna.
One was Claire Bennett.
The other was a pediatric emergency physician carrying a thermal infant kit.
"Baby first," the doctor said.
Anna reluctantly loosened her coat.
Tiny Lily's face had turned frighteningly pale.
The doctor slipped a tiny oxygen mask over her nose while wrapping her inside a heated blanket.
"We have to move now."
Anna climbed into the warm vehicle.
Only after the doors shut did she realize she had been shaking uncontrollably.
Not from the cold.
From betrayal.
Claire handed her a thick folder.
"I've already activated the emergency provisions in your grandfather's will."
Anna blinked.
"What provisions?"
Claire looked directly into her eyes.
"Elias Vale expected this."
Anna frowned.
"What?"
"He told us there was a strong possibility your husband would reveal his true character once he believed you had no money."
Silence filled the car.
Claire continued quietly.
"He left instructions."
She opened the folder.
Inside was a handwritten letter.
Anna immediately recognized her grandfather's elegant handwriting.
My dear Anna,
If you're reading this, then the people who claimed to love you have finally shown whether they loved your heart... or your inheritance.
Do not waste tears proving your worth.
Let truth destroy them.
Everything I built now belongs to you.
But remember—
Never destroy innocent people while punishing guilty ones.
Anna's tears finally came.
Not because she felt weak.
Because even in death...
Her grandfather had protected her.
Claire closed the letter.
"There is something Daniel never knew."
Anna looked up.
"Vale Global."
She nodded.
"It isn't simply worth $2.3 billion."
Claire smiled faintly.
"It owns seventy-one percent of Hawthorne Development."
Anna froze.
Daniel worked for Hawthorne Development.
Not as an executive.
As Regional Sales Director.
He constantly bragged about how indispensable he was.
Every promotion...
Every bonus...
Every luxury vacation...
Had come from that company.
Claire folded her hands.
"Tomorrow morning..."
"...you become his employer."
Back at the mansion...
Daniel poured champagne into crystal glasses.
Vanessa laughed as she curled up beside him.
"I still can't believe she actually begged."
Margaret smirked.
"Women always beg once they realize they're replaceable."
Daniel checked his phone.
No messages.
No calls.
Good.
Maybe Anna had finally accepted reality.
He leaned back confidently.
"The divorce will be finalized in weeks."
Vanessa kissed him.
"And the baby?"
Daniel shrugged.
"If Anna signs custody away, maybe I'll send child support."
Margaret laughed.
"If she refuses..."
Daniel's smile hardened.
"My lawyer already prepared documents claiming she's mentally unstable after childbirth."
Vanessa's eyes widened.
"You can do that?"
Daniel grinned.
"Who will believe a broke woman with postpartum depression?"
The three of them toasted.
None of them noticed the blinking red light above the fireplace.
The home's security cameras had recorded every word.
Meanwhile...
Inside the luxury suite of Vale Medical Center...
Lily's temperature slowly returned to normal.
The pediatrician finally smiled.
"She's going to be okay."
Anna closed her eyes.
Thank God.
Claire entered carrying another folder.
"I have more news."
Anna looked exhausted.
"What now?"
"We accessed your grandfather's private archive."
Claire placed several photographs onto the bed.
Daniel.
Margaret.
A much younger businessman.
Anna stared.
"Who's that?"
Claire answered carefully.
"Victor Hayes."
The former CEO of Hawthorne Development.
Anna waited.
Claire took a breath.
"Five years ago, Victor reported someone inside the company for large-scale financial fraud."
"And?"
"He disappeared."
Anna's stomach tightened.
"What does that have to do with Daniel?"
Claire slid another document across the bed.
Daniel's signature.
Dozens of transfers.
Shell companies.
Fake consulting contracts.
Anna whispered,
"...No."
Claire nodded.
"We believe Daniel has been helping someone steal millions from Hawthorne."
Anna felt cold again.
Not from the weather.
From realization.
Daniel hadn't betrayed her for Vanessa.
He needed her gone.
If she inherited Vale Global...
She would eventually discover the missing money.
Across town...
Inside a luxury penthouse...
Someone watched live security footage from Daniel's house.
An older man.
Gray hair.
Tailored suit.
Cold eyes.
He paused the recording where Daniel admitted fabricating mental illness claims.
The man smiled.
Then picked up his phone.
"She's alive."
The voice on the other end answered calmly.
"Good."
"And Daniel?"
"Leave him."
The older man hesitated.
"Are you sure?"
A slow response came.
"He thinks Anna is his biggest problem."
A pause.
"He hasn't realized..."
"...he's ours."
The next morning...
8:00 a.m.
Hawthorne Development Headquarters.
Nearly four hundred employees gathered in the executive auditorium.
Rumors spread everywhere.
"The board fired someone."
"I heard there's a new owner."
"No..."
"They say the controlling shareholder is finally appearing."
Daniel adjusted his expensive tie.
He wasn't worried.
In fact...
He planned to use today's board meeting to announce his promotion.
Vanessa had texted him.
Congratulations, future Vice President ❤️
He smiled proudly.
The chairman walked onto the stage.
"Ladies and gentlemen..."
"We are honored to welcome the majority owner of Vale Global..."
Daniel barely listened.
"...who, as of this morning, also assumes controlling authority over Hawthorne Development."
Polite applause echoed.
The auditorium doors slowly opened.
High heels clicked across the marble floor.
Everyone turned.
Daniel frowned.
Impossible.
Anna walked inside wearing a tailored black suit.
No hospital gown.
No tears.
No fear.
Only quiet authority.
Behind her stood six attorneys.
Three financial auditors.
Four private security officers.
Claire Bennett.
And the chairman himself.
Every executive rose to their feet.
Daniel remained frozen.
The chairman smiled warmly.
"Welcome, Ms. Vale."
The room erupted into applause.
Daniel whispered,
"...Anna?"
She looked directly at him for the first time since he had thrown her into the snow.
Her voice was calm enough to terrify him.
"Good morning, Mr. Carter."
Another silence.
Then she added—
"I hope no one minds if my first act as majority owner is to begin a forensic audit of every executive account... starting with yours."
Daniel's face drained of color.
And in the very back of the auditorium...
Two agents from the Financial Crimes Division quietly stepped through the doors.
May you like
They weren't there for the meeting.
They were there for the arrest.
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