Chapter 7 Maverick looked up . " Too corporate . Too soft . " My fingers tapped lightly on the desk in a steady rhythm . " It sounds like reading some innocuous notice . What I want is a statement everyone can understand - and remember . " " What do you mean , Miss ? " I met his gaze , my eyes sharp . " Add two more points . " " First , Lowell Corporation officially announces that effective immediately , we're terminating all forms of cooperation with Zander Caldwell's Brightvale Industries and all affiliated enterprises . We're also initiating legal proceedings to recover all debts and substantial penalty fees . " " Second , in my personal capacity as Lyra Lowell , I'm offering a $ 10 billion bounty for concrete evidence of any illegal or criminal activity by Clover Ashby and her family's business , Ashby Commerce . No upper limit . " " I want them to NEVER recover . " A flicker of surprise crossed Maverick's eyes , but it was quickly replaced by his usual calm composure . He understood clearly - this wasn't just business severance or personal revenge . This was a public show of power . " Understood . This will cause significant market disruption and media attention . " I stood and walked to the floor - to - ceiling window , gazing down at the glittering cityscape below . " Disruption is exactly what I want . " Thousands of lights sprawled below like stars fallen to earth , and Lowell Tower stood as the brightest among them . " Not just disruption - I want everyone to see clearly what it costs to cross Lyra Lowell . That will speak louder than any lukewarm statement . " Just then , the new phone on the desk rang abruptly - an unknown number . I glanced at it , signaling Maverick to answer on speaker . Maverick pressed the answer button , and Zander's incoherent voice immediately poured through . " Lyra , it's me ! I know I was wrong ! I didn't know - I was deceived by Clover ! She blinded me ! Please forgive me this once , okay ? We had five years together - let's just live well together . I'll listen to everything you say from now on , I ... " I didn't even let him finish . I gestured to Maverick . Maverick cleanly cut the call and expertly added the number to the blacklist . Chapter 7 Instant silence . Only the soft sound of our breathing remained in the study , along with the city's endless background hum outside . But I knew this deceptive calm was merely the brief lull before the storm . When tomorrow's sun rose , a tidal wave I had set in motion - one powerful enough to devour certain people entirely - would officially arrive . And I was no longer a victim cowering in the storm . I was the player . I was the storm itself . The next day- Shutter clicks at Lowell Corporation's press conference hall hadn't even faded before I strode out in custom leather shoes . Maverick followed close behind , gripping a freshly printed public opinion report , his knuckles white . Miss , the live broadcast discussion volume just broke 100 million . The hashtags #LowellHeirIdentityRevealed and 100Million BountyCloverAshby have both hit number one on trending . " hummed in acknowledgment , glancing at the employees standing respectfully in the hallway . heir eyes held awe , curiosity , and a calculated eagerness to please . hose gazes were like fine needles , uncomfortable yet sobering - reminding me that the Lyra who needed to feign poverty was truly , ompletely gone . Maverick suddenly stopped , lowering his voice . Lyra , Vincent Caldwell is kneeling at the building entrance . " Chapter 8 Chapter 8