CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY NINE – BANKRUPTCY

Julian's world narrowed to a single, crystalline point, the voices of the other executives fading into a dull roar as the reality of their situation crashed down upon him. Preston Enterprises, the heart and soul of his family's legacy, the embodiment of generations of blood, sweat, and sacrifice, was no more. The news of Preston Enterprises' downfall spread like wildfire, the media descending upon the story like a pack of ravenous wolves. Julian found himself besieged by a relentless barrage of questions, cameras flashing in his face as reporters shouted accusations and demands for comment. But he remained silent, a hollow shell of the man he once was, his eyes haunted and his shoulders slumped beneath the weight of his failure. Charlotte watched from the sidelines, her heart shattering with each passing moment as she witnessed the man she loved crumble before her eyes. She ached to reach out to him, to offer comfort and solace, but the chasm between them seemed to widen with every