Chapter 2 - The Frozen Empire
Liam stared at the damp legal document resting on the marble tiles.
The bold red stamp of the city courts proved it was completely authentic.
Cassandra motioned to her private security guards who stepped out from the dark shadows of the mansion.
The tall men in black suits formed a massive wall between Liam and his former home.
"You were so busy closing your overseas deals that you gave me full power of attorney," Cassandra sneered.
"I transferred the estate, the stock options, and the corporate bank accounts into my private trust."
Liam tightened his grip around his shivering mother.
He realized with a sickening twist in his stomach that his wife had been planning this absolute betrayal for months.
The wealthy guests quickly shuffled toward the exits, eager to avoid being caught in the messy crossfire of a billionaire divorce.
Eleanor coughed violently, her frail body shaking against the cool evening wind.
"Liam, let us just go," she whispered weakly.
"I do not need any money as long as I have you."
Liam helped his mother to her feet and guided her toward his luxury car parked in the driveway.
He reached into his pocket and pressed the ignition button on his keys.
Nothing happened.
A valet stepped forward, looking absolutely terrified as he held up a clipboard.
"I am sorry, sir, but the missus just instructed us to impound all vehicles registered under the company name."
Liam clenched his jaw, refusing to give Cassandra the sick satisfaction of seeing him lose his temper.
He took off his wet suit jacket and draped it over Eleanor's cold shoulders.
Together, the former billionaire and his mother began the long, humiliating walk down the winding driveway of Beverly Hills.
They walked for miles in the dark until they finally found a cheap roadside motel.
Liam pulled out his emergency credit card to pay for a room.
The front desk clerk swiped the card twice before shaking his head.
"Declined, buddy," the clerk muttered.
Liam tried three different cards, but every single one of his accounts had been frozen.
He had to trade his expensive luxury watch just to secure a miserable, dusty room for the night.
Once inside, he laid his mother on the stiff mattress and covered her with scratchy blankets.
Eleanor's breathing became shallow and incredibly uneven.
Suddenly, she gasped for air and began violently coughing up dark blood onto the white pillowcase.
Liam panicked and grabbed his cell phone to call an ambulance.
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The screen lit up with a terrifying text message from an unknown number.
"The pool was not just filled with chlorine, husband."
