Chapter 7
The morning sun rose bright and harsh, pouring through the massive windows of Corbin’s penthouse, casting long, cinematic shadows across the polished hardwood floors. There was no yellow tint to the light; it was brutally clear and revealing.
Corbin stood by the window, a cup of black coffee in his hand, watching the city wake up below him. He had already showered and changed into a fresh, fitted shirt and trousers, looking every bit the untouchable executive.
The silence of the apartment was broken by the soft patter of feet. Juniper walked out of her bedroom, rubbing her eyes sleepily. She was still wearing the casual dress from yesterday, looking slightly rumpled but entirely safe.
"Daddy?" she called out, looking around the massive living room.
"I'm right here, June bug," Corbin said, setting his coffee down and walking over to scoop her into his strong arms. "Good morning, sweetheart. Did you sleep well?"
Juniper nodded against his shoulder. "Are we going back to Grandpa's house today?"
"No," Corbin answered firmly, carrying her into the sleek, modern kitchen. "We are never going back there. You and I are going to have a very quiet, very safe day here. Just the two of us."
"Can we watch a movie?" she asked, her eyes widening hopefully.
"We can watch whatever you want," Corbin smiled, setting her down on a barstool and grabbing a plate of pancakes he had prepared earlier. "But first, breakfast."
As Juniper eagerly dug into her food, Corbin’s secure phone began to vibrate violently on the granite countertop. He glanced at the caller ID. It was Orson. The patriarch of the Voss family was calling.
Corbin didn't silence the phone. He simply watched it vibrate, allowing the older man to stew in his panic. The phone rang until it went to voicemail, then immediately began ringing again. This time, it was Tabitha. Then Orson again.
The realization of their absolute financial ruin was clearly hitting them in real-time.
Corbin finally picked up the phone, tapped the screen, and accepted the third call from Orson. He didn't put it on speaker, keeping his voice low so as not to disturb Juniper.
"Speak," Corbin said coldly.
"What have you done?!" Orson’s voice exploded through the earpiece, entirely unhinged and shaking with absolute terror. The arrogant, dismissive patriarch from yesterday was completely gone, replaced by a desperate, ruined old man. "My accounts are frozen! The bank says my entire portfolio has been liquidated! The shipping lines are refusing my calls!"
"I told you," Corbin replied smoothly, his voice a lethal, measured hum. "I told you to keep your money. I simply reclaimed my infrastructure."
"You did this?!" Orson shrieked, the reality of the situation finally connecting. "You hacked the family trust? Corbin, you are committing a felony! I will have you arrested! I will destroy you!"
"You can't afford a lawyer, Orson," Corbin stated, delivering the final, devastating blow. "You can't even afford to pay the electric bill on that massive estate. You are bankrupt. Completely, utterly broke."
"You... you can't do this!" Orson gasped, his breathing heavy and ragged. "We are your family!"
"You lost the right to call yourselves family the moment you let Tabitha suffocate my daughter," Corbin said, his eyes turning to icy steel. "Consider this a mild consequence. Do not call this number again."
Corbin hung up the phone and completely turned off the device, tossing it onto the counter. He turned back to Juniper, his handsome face completely relaxing into a warm, loving smile.
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"Are you finished with those pancakes, June bug?" Corbin asked brightly. "Because I think there might be a massive new dollhouse waiting for you in the living room."
Juniper squealed with delight, jumping off the stool and running toward the living room, completely unaware of the absolute destruction her father had just unleashed.
