**My Husband Threw a Coffee Cup at My Face and Ordered Me to Apologize to His Mother—Then ONE Phone Call Froze His $38 Million Empire!**

By morning, Marcus had found a new weapon: the television.

A smiling anchor described me as an unstable heiress who had staged a domestic dispute to seize control of her husband's company. A publicist said I had been struggling with an unspecified personal issue. They showed old photographs of Marcus holding my hand at charity galas, as if a tuxedo and a smile could erase what happened behind closed doors.

Dani muted the screen.

"He's counting on you to fight every lie," she said. "You'll exhaust yourself before lunch."

"He's telling everyone I'm sick."

"I know. Let Mara handle claims that affect the case. You eat breakfast."

She put toast in front of me. Even kindness felt strange.

My phone buzzed with messages from people I hadn't heard from in years. Some offered support. Others called me a liar. I blocked them.

At noon, Mara called. "We've obtained the server logs and preserved the backup through an independent examiner. Naomi will review the records. There's also a protective-order hearing Monday."

"What about the story?"

"We can issue a short statement correcting the false claim that you admitted wrongdoing. We will not try your marriage on television."

I liked that. I was tired of being entertainment.

Then Rosa called from Alder Court. Management had taped eviction warnings to several doors. Her rent was current, but the notice accused her of interfering with maintenance.

"They're coming after us because I talked to you," she said.

I put down my toast. "Photograph the notices. Don't throw anything away. We have tenant attorneys ready to meet you."

"You think a lawyer fixes everything?"

"No," I said. "But Marcus shouldn't get to decide the rules by himself anymore."

Before we hung up, Rosa told me one more thing. The man who had delivered the notices wore a Vale Meridian security badge. He'd asked whether Lucy walked home alone.

For a second, the old fear rose so fast I couldn't breathe.

Then I called Torres, told her precisely what Rosa had said, and asked what safety steps could be taken.