CHAPTER 4 — THE FALL OF THE CROSS NAME
The headline appeared on every financial screen before sunrise.
MONTROSE CAPITAL ASSUMES CONTROL OF CROSS GLOBAL HOLDINGS AFTER INTERNAL REVIEW
Within minutes, the entire business world was talking.
Executives.
Investors.
Rivals.
The same people who had spent years praising Damian Cross were now questioning everything.
The Cross name, once considered untouchable, had suddenly become a symbol of uncertainty.
Inside the Cross mansion, Damian stood in the living room staring at the television.
His own face appeared on the screen.
Not as a successful CEO.
Not as a billionaire businessman.
But as a man surrounded by questions.
The reporter’s voice echoed through the room.
“Sources confirm that Cross Global Holdings was heavily dependent on undisclosed Montrose Capital agreements. Isabella Montrose, previously known publicly only as Damian Cross’s wife, has been revealed as the key financial figure behind several major company expansions.”
Damian turned the television off.
The silence that followed was unbearable.
“She knew.”
His voice was barely above a whisper.
“She knew everything.”
Behind him, Evelyn sat on the sofa.
For once, she had no insults.
No judgment.
No confidence.
Only fear.
“Yes.”
Damian turned sharply.
“You knew too.”
Evelyn looked away.
“I knew the Montrose family was powerful.”
“No.”
His voice grew colder.
“You knew who she was.”
A long pause.
“Yes.”
The answer destroyed whatever patience Damian had left.
“You let me believe she was nothing.”
Evelyn looked at him.
“You wanted to believe she was nothing.”
The words hit harder because they were true.
Damian froze.
Evelyn continued.
“Every time someone mentioned her intelligence, you ignored it.”
“Every time investors praised her strategies, you took the credit.”
“Every time she tried to help you, you called it luck.”
Damian clenched his jaw.
“Stop.”
But Evelyn didn’t.
“You didn’t marry a weak woman, Damian.”
“You married a woman who was powerful enough to make you look successful.”
The room became silent.
Because that was the truth he hated most.
At Montrose Global Headquarters, Isabella sat across from her legal team.
Documents covered the table.
Reports.
Contracts.
Financial audits.
Everything Damian had ignored for years.
“Phase One has been completed,” the lead attorney said.
“Control has officially transferred.”
Isabella nodded.
“And the employees?”
The attorney looked surprised.
“Most are worried.”
“They believe there will be massive layoffs.”
Isabella immediately shook her head.
“No.”
She closed the file.
“The employees are not responsible for the mistakes of the people at the top.”
“Protect their positions.”
“Maintain their benefits.”
“And begin rebuilding the company correctly.”
Her father watched her carefully.
“You still care about them.”
Isabella looked at him.
“They worked for an empire they believed in.”
“They shouldn’t suffer because the people running it lied.”
Alexander smiled slightly.
That was always the difference between Isabella and Damian.
Damian loved power.
Isabella understood responsibility.
Later that afternoon…
Damian arrived at Montrose Global Headquarters.
For the first time in his life, he entered a building where nobody rushed to impress him.
No assistants running toward him.
No executives praising him.
No cameras waiting.
Only security.
He approached the front desk.
“I’m here to see Isabella Montrose.”
The receptionist looked at him calmly.
“Do you have an appointment?”
Damian stared.
“Do you know who I am?”
The receptionist didn’t react.
“Yes.”
A pause.
“That is why I’m asking.”
The humiliation burned.
Four years ago, people opened doors for him.
Today, he had to ask permission to enter.
“I need to speak with her.”
The receptionist made a call.
A few moments later, she looked up.
“Ms. Montrose will see you.”
Damian expected relief.
Instead…
He felt nervous.
The elevator doors opened.
Isabella stood near the window in her office.
The same woman.
But completely different.
She didn’t turn around.
“You have five minutes.”
Damian walked inside.
“You planned this.”
Isabella slowly turned.
“No.”
“I prevented it.”
He stared at her.
“You destroyed my company.”
Her expression remained calm.
“No, Damian.”
“I revealed who was actually keeping it alive.”
He stepped closer.
“You could have told me.”
“I tried.”
“When?”
She looked at him.
“Every day.”
The answer confused him.
“What?”
“Every time I offered advice.”
“Every time I warned you about bad investments.”
“Every time I told you to stop trusting people who only praised you.”
She paused.
“You didn’t want a partner.”
“You wanted someone who would admire you.”
The words cut deeper than any accusation.
Damian looked away.
For a moment, he remembered.
The late nights Isabella spent reviewing contracts.
The meetings she attended quietly.
The advice he ignored.
The sacrifices he never noticed.
But pride refused to let him admit it.
“I was your husband.”
Isabella’s eyes became colder.
“Yes.”
“And I was your wife.”
A pause.
“Until you decided I was someone beneath you.”
Damian reached into his pocket.
He pulled out his wedding ring.
He looked at it for several seconds.
“I made mistakes.”
Isabella said nothing.
“I was angry.”
“You were cruel.”
“I was under pressure.”
“You were arrogant.”
His face tightened.
“You’re really going to throw away four years?”
Isabella stared at him.
“No.”
“I’m finally accepting that those four years already happened.”
Silence.
Damian lowered his voice.
“Do you hate me?”
For the first time, Isabella looked almost sad.
“No.”
The answer surprised him.
“I don’t hate you.”
“Then why?”
She looked directly into his eyes.
“Because I loved you.”
A pause.
“And you used that love as proof that I would never leave.”
Damian had no response.
Because he knew she was right.
That night, another announcement shocked the business world.
Montrose Capital revealed a complete leadership restructuring plan.
And at the top of the document was one decision.
Damian Cross removed as CEO of Cross Global Holdings.
The man who once controlled an empire…
Was now watching it move forward without him.
And for the first time…
Damian understood the most painful truth.
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He hadn’t lost his company.
He had lost the woman who made it possible.
