Bride of Revenge

Chapter 3: New Beginning

Eliza remained throughout the night within the dusty sealed office in the Thorne Family Estate. She stayed awake. She didn't require rest. Rest was, for the wife she once was. The woman present now was honed by intent driven by the icy surge of tactical thinking.

The early rays of Veridia City’s dawn filtered through the tall leaded glass windows, illuminating particles of dust. At one time she had stood here clad in ivory dresses. Now she donned a utilitarian suit she had kept out of sight for years—a suit meant for meetings, not dances.

Her fingers glided smoothly across the keypad of the satellite phone as she completed the encrypted call to London.

“The original directive is explicit Mr. Chen " she stated, her tone calm and composed. "Valerius Capital itself is off-limits. Everything surrounding it is fair game. Our first move is to dismantle Marcus Thorne.”

“An initial step, Miss Thorne " Mr. Chen responded, calm and calculated despite the distance between them. "Marcus is the point in your family. Increase pressure. He will collapse. His fear will expose the underlying plot. We’ll leverage Stellar Group’s reserves to obliterate his leftover assets. It will be conspicuous, public and utterly unavoidable, for your ex-husband.”

“Fine, " Eliza replied, her tone calm. "Initiate the sale by noon Veridia time. Don’t give him any chance to recover. I want the rumor mills to be buzzing about the Thorne family fracturing before the market shuts down.”

The call concluded. The initial phase of her business offensive had started.

Eliza secured the office door behind her. Embraced her new persona with intentional composure. She would never again live her life, as Mrs. Damon Valerius.

She operated an unbranded Thorne family car—selected deliberately as it attracted no notice. Her route led to a low-profile security company located on the neglected border of the city distant from the shiny financial center.

“I want all phone numbers, emails and electronic files connected to Eliza Valerius deleted " she directed the firm’s owner, a weathered exsecurity head who had previously worked for her father. "Make sure she disappears from all databases within four hours.”

He nodded promptly. ". Which name takes her spot, Miss?”

Eliza gazed at her image, in the office glass. A woman shaped by flames returned the gaze.

“My name is Eliza Sterling " she stated. "Refer to me by that name in all communications and agreements. Eliza Sterling holds the position of CEO, at Stellar Group.”

---

Afterward she acted swiftly. She obtained an apartment close to Stellar Group Tower. It wasn’t a penthouse. Not a statement. Simply a neat peaceful practical place to create her start.

She purchased a closet—sleek suits in charcoal and navy. No longer fragile ivory. No longer soft silk. She was no longer interested in appearing delicate again.

By midday she found herself inside an office within the incomplete Stellar Group Tower—an environment buzzing with sounds, drive and untapped possibilities. An ideal backdrop for transformation.

A video call appeared on her screen. Mr. Chen.

“The strike against Marcus succeeded, Miss Sterling " he conveyed from the London trading floor. "We began the sale at 11:45. His primary holding company fell apart twenty-five minutes after. He is rushing to find lawyers. None will aid him.”

“He won’t receive assistance, " Eliza said. "Damon never had any concern for Marcus. Marcus was merely a cover for the family’s debt. Now he poses a danger. Damon will allow him to fail.”

“Nevertheless " Mr. Chen continued, "the downfall has drawn media attention. News titles suggest a ‘Thorne Civil War’. Ponder the ‘enigmatic CEO leading Stellar Group.’ You have been noticed. Mr. Valerius is now completely aware.”

Fine. She required his concentration. She desired him attentively. She wanted him terrified.

Eliza bent closer examining the chart displayed on her monitor—a layout of Valerius Capital’s concealed debt framework, familiar to her, from her grandfather’s secret records.

“When Damon encounters a foe he responds " she stated. "We shall provide him with one.”

“Mr. Chen initiated the bond acquisitions on Thursday " she proceeded. "Don’t apply much pressure now. Concentrate on areas. We compel him to decide between safeguarding an asset or safeguarding his financial statements.”

“Which cherished possession?" Mr. Chen inquired. She could sense he was already aware.

“The Veridia City Foundation, for the Arts " she replied. "His shining endeavor. His public heritage. If he sells off the entity linked to it he sacrifices his valued reputation. If he safeguards it the default will damage his stock value.. When the value drops sufficiently… we act.”

“A crafted predicament, " Mr. Chen remarked. ". Efficient.”

“He showed me how to measure the price of ambition, " Eliza whispered. "Now I will show him the price of cruelty.”

---

Eliza hung up the phone.

Within a span of, then twelve hours she wiped out her former existence, created a fresh persona, destroyed Marcus Thorne’s economic status and laid a snare that would corner Damon Valerius in full public view. Each action she took was. Ruthless.

She. Moved toward the incomplete border of the office gazing out at the shimmering skyline of Veridia City. The Valerius Capital headquarters loomed away—chilly, towering and proud.

She could nearly glimpse the penthouse where Damon had previously removed her from his life.

Beneath her the noise of construction thundered. The noise of restoration. The noise of tomorrow is taking form.

The Valerius family once owned this city. She intended to dismantle it bit by bit and reconstruct it under the name Sterling.

He believes he expelled a girl. He was mistaken. I want my business returned.. I want compensation.

This was no longer survival. This was strategy. This was war.

And she had already fired the opening shot.