Ava Carlisle POV:

I stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows of the presidential suite, looking down at the glittering expanse of New York City.

I took a sip of champagne, listening to the frantic voice of Robert Knight on the other end of the phone. He was the lead representative for the biggest investor in the 'Starlight' project.

"Miss Carlisle," Robert's voice was strained. "We've executed your mother's instructions. But are you certain you want to pull all investments now? The project is at a critical stage. A withdrawal of this magnitude will send Sterling Group directly into bankruptcy!"

"I'm certain," I said, my voice flat and emotionless. "Mr. Knight, this is a decision from the Carlisle family, is it not? As for the fate of Sterling Group, it is of no concern to me."

I ended the call and tossed the phone onto the sofa. Julian, you looked down on me, the "baker"? You'll soon learn that the career you're so proud of is nothing but a sandcastle I can destroy with a single word.

I slipped off my heels and walked barefoot across the plush carpet to the bathroom, sinking into a tub filled with hot water and rose petals. I needed to wash away the cheap scent of the last seven years.

The water was warm, but a chill remained deep inside me. An image flashed in my mind: Julian and Scarlett, smiling in their "family photo," taken in the nursery I had built with my own hands.

I closed my eyes, forcing the image away.

After my bath, I changed into a simple black silk gown and sat at the vanity, applying my makeup with a steady hand.

My phone began to ring incessantly. Julian's name flashed on the screen. I let it ring until it went to voicemail.

A flood of text messages followed, his tone shifting from questioning to rage, and finally to begging.

"Ava, what did you do? Why are you trying to ruin me?"

"Answer the phone! You crazy bitch!"

"I was wrong, Ava. Please, can we just talk?"

A contemptuous smile touched my lips as I dragged his number to the block list.

As I expected, half an hour later, the doorbell of my suite began to ring frantically.

I looked through the peephole. Julian's face was a mask of anxiety and fury. He must have learned my location from Robert, as well as the fact that I was the one who ordered the withdrawal of funds.

I walked slowly to the door and opened it.

"Ava!" Julian burst in, grabbing my wrist. "Why would you do this? The 'Starlight' project is my entire life's work!"

Before I could answer, a delicate voice came from behind him. "Julian, please don't be like this. Let's talk things out. Don't scare Ava."

I saw Scarlett standing in the doorway, clutching her son, Cody, looking fragile and pitiful. She actually had the nerve to follow him here.

Scarlett's eyes darted around the opulent suite, a flash of envy in their depths before she masked it with her usual look of meekness.

"Ava," she began, her eyes welling with tears as she held the child tighter, "I know you're angry because of Julian and me. But the project is innocent. You can't destroy Julian's future over our personal issues."

Her son, Cody, must have been coached. He looked at me with wide, fearful eyes and whispered, "Auntie, please don't bully my daddy."

Seeing his mother and son's performance, Julian seemed to feel he had the moral high ground. He released my wrist and stepped in front of Scarlett, shielding her as he glared at me. "Ava, look what you've done to them! How can your heart be so cruel?"

I laughed. A real, genuine laugh at the sheer audacity. They had stolen my money and destroyed my life, and now they were ganging up to call me cruel?

"My heart is cruel?" I took a step forward, my cold gaze sweeping over the three of them. "Julian, when you were using my money to support your mistress and your illegitimate child, was your heart not cruel then?"

I turned to Scarlett, my smile growing colder. "And you, Miss Hicks. You come here wearing designer clothes bought with my money, living in an apartment paid for with my money, and now you stand before me pretending to be a saint. Don't you find that ridiculous?"

Scarlett's face went white. She never imagined I would know the details, let alone say them out loud.

Julian's face was a mess of ugly colors. He tried to argue, "I'll pay you back for the money..."

"Don't bother," I cut him off, my voice filled with disgust. "I'd feel dirty taking it."

I pulled a checkbook from my clutch. It was already prepared. In front of them, I wrote out a number, then tore the check out and threw it at Julian's face.

"Here's one million dollars," I said, my voice low but clear enough for everyone to hear. "Consider it payment for your services these past seven years. Now, take your mistress and your illegitimate son, and disappear from my sight."

Julian was completely enraged by my action. He snatched the check from the air, tore it into tiny pieces, and screamed, "Ava! Don't you go too far!"

"Too far?" I let out a cold laugh. "This is just the beginning."

I turned away from them and pressed the service button on the wall.

Within moments, two large hotel security guards appeared at the door. "Please escort these 'guests' out. From now on, they, and any dogs they might own, are not permitted to set foot in this hotel again."

Under Julian and Scarlett's shocked and humiliated gazes, they were forcibly "escorted" out. The closing door cut off their curses and the sound of the child's crying.