Chapter 7: The Media Storm

By dawn, the world had caught fire. The Vanderbilt wedding had been the social event of the season, meaning hundreds of the city's most influential people—and their smartphones—had been in the pews. The footage of Eleanor tearing Maya's dress and her subsequent confession had leaked to every major news outlet before the catering staff had even cleared the untouched caviar.

Liam ordered room service, though neither of them could eat, and turned on the massive flat-screen television.

BREAKING NEWS: Billionaire Heir Fraud? The Vanderbilt Wedding Disaster!

"Reports are flooding in from what is being called the most catastrophic society wedding of the decade. Sources inside the chapel claim Eleanor Vanderbilt confessed that her son, Liam, is not her biological child, and that the bride, Maya Miller, is actually her long-lost daughter. Wall Street has reacted violently..."

Liam muted the television, throwing the remote onto the plush sofa.

"They're calling it a hostile takeover by biology," Liam muttered, rubbing his eyes. He pulled up his laptop, quickly scanning the financial fallout.

The Vanderbilt Empire - Morning After Fallout:

Asset/EntityStatusMarket ReactionVanderbilt Shipping Co.Stock down 14%Panic selling by major institutional investors.Robert VanderbiltCEOIssued a statement claiming "temporary medical distress" of his wife.Liam VanderbiltVP of OperationsSuspended pending "family leave."

"He suspended me," Liam scoffed, pointing at the screen. "He's trying to cut off my access to the company servers. He knows I have the security clearances to dig into the financials from twenty-five years ago. He's terrified I'm going to find the paper trail for the two million dollars he paid your parents."

Maya sat at the edge of the bed, wearing oversized hotel sweatpants and a t-shirt Marcus had procured. "Can he do that? Just cover this up?"

"He's Robert Vanderbilt," Liam said darkly. "He can buy silence from almost anyone. But he can't buy ours."

Just then, the hotel room phone rang. It was an unlisted internal line, meant only for the concierge. Liam answered it on speaker.

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"Mr. Vanderbilt," the concierge's voice crackled. "My apologies for the intrusion, but there is a woman in the lobby. She bypassed security. She says she is your mother, and she refuses to leave until she speaks with the bride."

Maya's breath hitched. Eleanor was here.