THE GLASS HOUSE OF ROSES

"How long do we have before they execute the transfer?" Evelyn demanded, stepping out from behind her desk and walking toward the grand window overlooking the sunlit greenhouse.

"The county court has scheduled an emergency title hearing for Thursday morning," Marcus replied. "If we cannot prove that Clara was under undue influence or incapacitated at the time of signing, the judge will have no choice but to enforce the Swiss lien."

Evelyn stood at the window, watching little Lily playing on the lawn with her caretaker, her small yellow dress bright against the green grass.

"We don't need to prove undue influence, Marcus," Evelyn said softly, her eyes narrowing as a brilliant, ruthless strategy began to take shape in her mind.

Marcus looked at her, puzzled. "Ma'am?"

Evelyn turned around, her posture regal, her gray eyes burning with the fiery intelligence that had built the Vance empire alongside her late husband.

"Who owns the primary debt notes for the Swiss holding company?" Evelyn asked smoothly.

Marcus pulled up his tablet, searching the financial databases. "It’s a subsidiary of Nordik Capital... which is owned by—"

"By the Sterling Group," Evelyn finished the sentence for him, a cold, triumphant smile touching her lips. "And who purchased ninety percent of the Sterling Group’s defaulted debt during the auction three weeks ago?"

Marcus froze. A slow, appreciative grin spread across his weathered face. "You did, Mrs. Vance."

"Exactly," Evelyn declared, taking her jacket off the coat rack and slipping it over her shoulders. "Vanessa thought she was playing chess with paper contracts. She forgot that I own the board."

Evelyn walked toward the door, her high heels clicking firmly against the hardwood floor.

"Call our financial legal team," Evelyn ordered. "Tell them to foreclose on Nordik Capital’s debt notes immediately. By 5:00 PM today, I want that Swiss holding company dissolved, its assets seized, and every legal claim against this estate burned to ash."