CHAPTER EIGHTY TWO – BREAKING THE FARCE

The next morning, Charlotte awoke before dawn and carefully applied her makeup, donning one of her sharpest power suits -- a bold red number that always made her feel confident and in control. Julian watched her preparations with a furrowed brow over the rim of his coffee cup. "What's this all about, my love?" Charlotte straightened the crisp lapels of her tailored blazer, meeting Julian's concerned gaze in the mirror's reflection. "I'm going on the offensive. If the vultures want their pound of flesh so badly, I'm going to give them something to truly sink their teeth into." Julian set down his coffee cup, brow furrowing. "I don't like the sound of that. Charlotte, you know how rabid those parasites can be. Don't give them any more fuel for their fire." But Charlotte was determined, that defiant spark blazing in her eyes. "They're going to make a spectacle out of me no matter what I do or don't do. So I'm going to control the narrative for once instead of constantly playing defens