A Guest Poured Red Wine On Me And Claimed Her Fiancé Ran My Resort, So I Called Him Down—But His Ring Exposed The Family Betrayal Hidden In My Grandfather’s Empire...

I turned my back on Chloe, leaving her trembling and utterly humiliated in the center of the room. I didn't need to ruin her dress; I had ruined her pride with pure class. The socialites surrounding her immediately turned away, freezing her out of their circles. She would leave the lodge before midnight, and she would never return.

Liam was waiting for me near the grand fireplace. He handed me a glass of champagne, his eyes dancing with amusement.

“You are terrifying, you know that?” Liam chuckled, clinking his glass against mine.

“I prefer the term ‘formidable,’” I corrected, taking a sip. “Besides, I promised my grandfather I would rule with an iron fist and a gracious heart. I think I struck a perfect balance tonight.”

“I think Arthur would agree,” Liam said softly. His gaze dropped to my lips for a fraction of a second, the professional boundary between us blurring slightly in the warmth of the firelight. “So, the company is safe. The traitors are in prison. What’s next for the great Elena Sterling?”

I looked out the massive windows at the snow-covered peaks glowing in the moonlight. For the first time in my life, I wasn't carrying the crushing weight of my family’s expectations, nor was I looking over my shoulder for the next knife in my back. I had fought through the fire, and the empire was entirely, undeniably mine.

“Next,” I smiled, looking back at Liam, “we expand. I think it’s time the Sterling brand opened a property in the Swiss Alps. And I might need a highly aggressive corporate attorney to handle the international acquisitions.”