Chapter 10: The Phoenix Rises

The morning of the Global Launch Press Conference arrived.

Vance Tower was packed with people.

Fashion journalists from around the world, company board members, and rich socialites filled the large auditorium.

Cameras flashed everywhere.

Backstage, Sarah took a deep breath.

She looked at herself in the mirror.

She was no longer wearing the ivory jumpsuit from the textile gala.

Instead, she wore a beautiful midnight-black gown that she had designed herself.

Part of the dress was made with the special Starlight Brocade.

The dress looked powerful.

It was almost like Sarah was telling the world that she was ready for war.

The curtain moved.

Sarah heard the quiet sound of Adrian's wheelchair approaching.

He was wearing a perfect charcoal suit.

His face looked cold and serious, just like the powerful businessman everyone knew.

But when the assistants moved away, Adrian looked at Sarah.

His dark eyes were filled with a strong emotion that made her heart beat faster.

“The police have searched Eleanor's house,” Adrian whispered.

“My legal team gave them the complete bank records we found last night.”

Sarah looked at him.

“She doesn't know what is happening yet?”

Adrian gave a small smile.

“She has no idea how close the trap is.”

“And Victoria?”

“She has spent the whole morning talking to board members.”

Adrian's smile became colder.

“She believes what Jason told you yesterday broke you.”

Sarah's lips curved slightly.

“She thinks I won't show up today?”

“She thinks she is coming here to watch you fail.”

Adrian looked toward the stage.

“Let's give her a show.”

A few minutes later, the lights in the auditorium went dark.

The crowd became silent.

A bright spotlight appeared in the center of the stage.

Music began to play.

Sarah stepped onto the stage.

Her back was straight.

Her head was held high.

She looked completely confident.

The crowd began to clap loudly.

In the front row sat Victoria.

She wore a bright gold dress.

Beside her sat Jason.

He looked tired and nervous.

The moment Victoria saw Sarah standing proudly instead of crying, her smile disappeared.

She angrily whispered something to Jason.

Sarah ignored them.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Sarah said into the microphone.

Her voice was calm and strong.

“Welcome to the official launch of Vance Fashion House's first collection, The Phoenix Collection.”

The large screen behind her came alive.

Models appeared on the screen wearing beautiful clothes made with Starlight Brocade.

The fabric seemed to shine as the models moved.

The journalists quickly began typing on their laptops.

Everyone could see that Sarah's collection was special.

Sarah continued.

“This collection is dedicated to my late mother, Aria Lin.”

She paused.

“It is proof that no matter how deeply you bury the truth, it will always rise again.”

The crowd became even quieter.

“We are now open for questions,” the moderator announced.

A journalist quickly stood up.

“Director Sarah!”

He held the microphone.

“Rumors have been spreading that your stepmother, Eleanor Lin, has asked the court to stop your new collection.”

He continued.

“She claims that your collection uses designs and property that belonged to her company, Lin & Co.”

“Some people are also saying that you are destroying your own family financially. How do you respond?”

Victoria leaned back in her chair.

A small smile appeared on her face.

She had paid the journalist to ask that question.

She thought Sarah would be trapped.

Sarah did not even look at the journalist.

She looked directly at Victoria.

“I am glad you asked,” Sarah said.

“The only person who stole money and company property connected to Lin & Co. did so nine years ago.”

She paused.

“And the police have just finished collecting the evidence.”

Suddenly, the large screen behind Sarah changed.

The fashion video disappeared.

A live news broadcast appeared.

A huge headline flashed across the screen:

BREAKING: ELEANOR LIN ARRESTED FOR FRAUD, STEALING MONEY, AND HIDING MONEY OVERSEAS

The crowd exploded with shock.

The screen showed federal officers taking Eleanor out of her house in handcuffs.

She was trying to hide her face from the cameras.

Journalists jumped from their seats.

Questions filled the room.

Cameras turned toward the screen.

Sarah remained completely calm.

“Furthermore,” she said.

Her voice cut through the noise.

“The investigation has discovered that some of the stolen money was used to help certain members of the Vance family's other branches gain power inside the company.”

She paused.

“The legal department of the main branch is now freezing those assets.”

Jason suddenly gasped.

His face became pale.

His phone was shaking in his hand because of the emergency messages from his bank.

Victoria jumped to her feet.

Her face was full of rage.

“This is a lie!” she shouted.

“You are using a company event to attack your own family!”

She turned toward Adrian.

“Adrian, stop this!”

Adrian slowly rolled his wheelchair onto the stage.

He stopped beside Sarah.

Then he reached up and placed his large hand over hers on the microphone.

The message was clear.

They were standing together.

“My wife speaks with the full authority of the Vance main branch,” Adrian said.

His voice echoed through the auditorium.

“The board has already voted.”

He looked toward Victoria.

“Marcus has been removed.”

“Eleanor is under arrest.”

“And the investigation into your department is complete.”

Victoria's face turned pale.

Adrian looked toward the security team.

“Security, escort the former board members out.”

Four large men in dark suits immediately surrounded Victoria and Jason.

Jason looked around desperately.

Victoria tried to protest.

But there was nothing they could do.

The guards led them out of the auditorium.

Everyone watched.

Cameras followed them.

The woman and her son who had once held power inside the Vance family were now being publicly removed in front of the entire world.

The doors finally closed behind them.

Silence filled the room.

Sarah looked down at Adrian.

Her heart was beating hard.

The first major part of her revenge was complete.

Under the podium, away from the cameras, Adrian tightened his hold on her hand.

Sarah looked at him.

For the first time, she saw a real smile on his face.

Not the cold smile he showed the business world.

A genuine smile.

His eyes showed victory.

But they also held a promise.

Their revenge had only just begun.