The name was spot on.
Alexander Reed.
Owner of the building. Director of Reed Financial. A man with enough power to create or destroy entire companies.
Ethan’s face paled.
“Wait… what?”
Alexander picked up the signed papers, calmly flipped through them, and then looked at Ethan.
“So you’re the man who thought my daughter was worthless.”
Ethan tried to recover.
“With all due respect, this is private.”
Alexander gave a slight smile.
“It stopped being private the moment you humiliated her.”
Vanessa stuttered.
“We didn’t know…”
—Exactly —replied Alexander—. You didn’t.
Ethan swallowed hard.
“If it’s about money, we can renegotiate…”
Alexander let out a soft laugh.
“Money?”
He took out his phone.
“Cancel all meetings with your company. Immediately. And withdraw all financial support.”
Ethan jumped to his feet.
“You can’t do that!”
“Can’t?”
“My company is about to go public!”
“I know,” Alexander said calmly. “And I also know that most of your investors are connected to my network.”
Silence filled the room.
I realized it.
Everything Ethan had built was crumbling.
“Would you destroy my company for this?”
Alexander stared at him.
“No. You did that yourself.”
He left the papers on the table.
“I’m simply withdrawing support you never deserved.”
Vanessa’s voice trembled.
“Ethan… what does that mean?”
He did not respond.
Because he already knew.
Without investors.
No financing.
No IPO.
It’s over.
Emily exhaled softly.
“Dad…”
Alexander softened.
“I’m sorry. I know you wanted to face this alone.”
She shook her head.
“You were right.”
She looked at Ethan one last time.
Without anger. Without pain.
Simply clarity.
“I never wanted your money.”
She took the card and gave it back to him.
“And I never needed your pity.”
Alexander put an arm around her.
“Come on.”
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