My Husband Ruined Our Marriage to Protect His Mother, So I Froze Their Fortune
Previously: When Ryan chose his mother's lies over his wife's dignity, he didn't realize Mariana held the keys to the family empire. One phone call changed everything.
The Cost of Betrayal
Ryan and Eleanor had spent years operating under a massive delusion. They believed the Sterling fortune, the mansion, and the social standing all belonged to them. In reality, the entire estate was funded and secured by Mariana’s family trust—a detail Ryan had conveniently ignored during their whirlwind romance. The prenuptial agreement they had signed was ironclad, but it contained a specific "morality and abuse" clause. By putting his hands on her, Ryan had just triggered a financial self-destruct sequence.
The next morning, the illusion of luxury began to crumble. Eleanor was at an exclusive boutique downtown, her arms filled with designer garments, when the cashier politely informed her that her black titanium card had been declined. Confused and embarrassed, Eleanor tried her secondary cards, only to receive the same result. Within minutes, she was frantically calling Ryan.
Meanwhile, Ryan was at the corporate headquarters of Sterling Enterprises. He was in the middle of a board meeting when his chief financial officer walked in, pale and trembling. The company's primary operating accounts had been completely locked down by court order. The assets were frozen, the luxury cars were flagged for repossession, and the mansion's locks were already scheduled to be changed.
Panic-stricken, Ryan drove back to the mansion, only to find Eleanor standing outside on the marble steps, her designer bags piled around her. The grand double doors were locked, guarded by two burly security guards in dark suits. Just then, Mariana's sedan pulled up. She stepped out, wearing a sharp cream-colored trench coat, her dark wavy hair blowing in the wind. The scratch on her cheek was covered with light makeup, but her eyes were sharper than ever.
"What is the meaning of this, Mariana?" Ryan demanded, rushing toward her. "You can't lock us out of our own home!"
"It was never your home, Ryan," Mariana replied smoothly. "And as of today, you are officially bankrupt."
”"And as of today, you are officially bankrupt."