Chapter 228
Chapter 228:
Director Liu, who had stayed behind briefly to deliver the final blow, walked back into the center of the room, right up to the stage.
He looked up at Beatrice. He didn’t need a microphone. His voice was the voice of money, and money always commanded silence.
“Beatrice,” Liu said. “You are mistaken p>
Beatrice froze. “What p>
“We are not bewitched,” Liu said. “And we are not coming back. In fact, due to Mr. Kensington’s recent arrest and the subsequent drop in your credit rating, Sterling Corporation is exercising the ‘Immediate Repayment’ clause in our loan agreement p>
Liam felt the blood drain from his face. The Repayment Clause. It wasn’t just a withdrawal of partnership; it was a demand for cash. Cash they didn’t have.
“What are you saying?” Liam asked, stepping forward.
“I am saying,” Liu turned to Liam, “that Sterling Corp is seizing collateral. Specifically, the Hudson Yards development site, the port expansion machinery, and the Kensington Tech Park land deeds. We are taking possession effective immediately. Security teams are securing the sites as we speak p>
The room erupted. Journalists were typing furiously on their phones. This was billions of dollars. This was the end of Kensington Global’s liquidity.
“You can’t do that!” Liam shouted. “That’s theft! The penalties will bankrupt you p>
“We have calculated the legal costs,” Liu said calmly. “Ms. Sterling has authorized this seizure. She considers it a… cleaning fee p>
A cleaning fee.
Skye was willing to burn hundreds of millions of dollars just to wash her hands of him.
“She’s bluffing,” Liam whispered. “She doesn’t have that kind of capital p>
“She does now,” Liu said. “Good evening, Mr. Kensington p>
Liu turned and walked out.
Liam stood there, swaying. The room spun. The faces of the elite blurred into a smear of mocking colors. He looked at Beatrice, who had dropped the microphone. It rolled across the stage with a deafening thud-thud-thud.
He looked at Seraphina, who was crying for real now, terrified by the look in his eyes.
“You did this,” Liam said to her. “You and your drama. You gave her the excuse p>
𝘠𝗼𝘂𝗋 𝘥i𝗴it𝗮l l𝗶𝘣𝘳𝖺r𝗒 𝘰𝘯 b𝗲.𝖼o𝗆
“Liam, no p>
Liam turned and ran. He pushed past the waiters, past security, bursting out the side doors into the cool night air.
He had to catch her. He had to stop her.
He ran down the steps to the driveway. The red taillights of the limousines were a river of fire.
“Skye!” he screamed.
Fifty yards away, standing by the curb, Skye Sterling paused.
She was about to step into a car.
Liam sprinted toward her. “Skye! Wait! You can’t do this p>
She turned. The wind caught her red dress, whipping it around her legs. She looked like a goddess of war.
“It’s done, Liam,” she said. Her voice carried on the wind, faint but final.
“We had a deal!” Liam reached for her, but a massive bodyguard stepped into his path.
“Step back, sir,” the guard rumbled.
Skye looked at Liam one last time. There was no triumph on her face. Only exhaustion.
“Goodbye, Liam p>
She ducked into the car.