CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY SEVEN – THE BEGINNING OF THE END

The von Beckers' strike was as calculated as it was vicious, a masterful stroke of duplicity that left the Jones and Preston families reeling in its wake. It began with a series of innocuous leaks, carefully curated snippets of information that hinted at the scandals yet to come. "Sources close to the families claim that there are deep rifts within their ranks," a breathless reporter announced on the nightly news, her perfectly coiffed hair and immaculate makeup a stark contrast to the lurid details she was about to unleash. "Rumors of infidelity, financial impropriety, and even criminal activity have been swirling in the upper echelons of New York's elite." Julian watched the report unfold with a mounting sense of dread, his fingers tightening around the remote control until his knuckles turned white. Beside him, Charlotte sat rigid, her jaw clenched as she braced herself for the onslaught. "This is just the beginning," she murmured, her voice laced with grim resignation. Julian's