Chapter 3 - The Scramble for Scraps
The morning after the dinner, the world didn't just wake up—it exploded. By 8:00 AM, the financial news tickers were scrolling in red: Morrison Enterprises Faces Liquidation Amidst Massive Fraud Allegations.
I sat in my private office—a space of glass and steel that overlooked the city—sipping chamomile tea. The contrast between this morning and the previous night was jarring. No more freezing water. No more hushed insults. Just the hum of the high-speed servers managing the systematic dismantling of the Morrison legacy.
Brendan was waiting in the lobby. He had been there since 6:00 AM. When he finally gained clearance to enter, he didn't look like the man who had laughed while his mother humiliated me. His suit was wrinkled, his hair disheveled, and the arrogance had been replaced by a hollowed-out panic.
"They seized the cars, Cassidy," he said, his voice raspy. "The accounts are locked. Diane is having a nervous breakdown in the hallway. Even the housekeeper quit when the payroll bounced."
I didn't look up from my screen. "I’m not surprised. The company hasn't been solvent for months, Brendan. You were too busy playing golfer and socialite to notice that the foundation had rotted away."
"We can fix this," he pleaded, stepping closer to my desk. "I'll do whatever you want. I’ll leave Diane. I’ll apologize to you in front of the board. Just give us back the access. We have nowhere to go."
I finally looked up. My eyes were clear. "You don't understand, do you? This wasn't a punishment. This was an eviction. You and your family were parasites on a system I built from the ground up while I was 'the poor burden' living in your guest wing. You aren't losing your lifestyle; you're losing the life you stole from me."
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As I spoke, Arthur entered, carrying a thick file. He barely glanced at Brendan. "The auditors found the offshore accounts, Cassidy. Diane has been skimming from the employee pension fund for three years. The authorities are on their way."
Brendan went white. The sound of sirens in the distance grew louder.
