Chapter 15
Madison’s heels clicked across the marble foyer of the Cross mansion as she shook rain from her umbrella.
Her expensive silk scarf was soaked through, clinging uncomfortably to her neck.
“Dad! What the hell is happening?” She burst into the study, voice shrill enough to cut glass.
Her father slumped in his leather chair, computer screen casting pale light over his haggard features.
He looked up with dark circles under his eyes that seemed almost black in the lighting.
“It’s over.….. everything’s over…” His trembling finger pointed at the screen. “Sinclair Industries just pulled out of every partnership. Our cash flow is…”
Madison lunged for the computer, red numbers burning her retinas.
Cross Corporation stock had plummeted 67%, market value evaporating by nearly two billion.
Her fingers flew across the trackpad, scrolling through email after email terminating contracts–each one like a
knife to the chest.
“Impossible… Lucas wouldn’t do this to me…” she whispered, frantically typing. “There’s been a mistake!”
“A mistake?” Her father exploded, palm cracking against the desk. “The bank just called demanding loan repayment within three days! Do you know what Lucas has done? He’s united every partner against us–even our overseas projects are dead!”
Madison’s phone rang. Her best friend Emma.
She grabbed it like a lifeline: “Emma! Listen to me…”
“Madison,” the voice on the other end was ice–cold, “my father asked me to tell you the Hamilton family is terminating all relationships with Cross Corporation, effective immediately.”
“What? We had the renewal contract for next month…”
“Don’t be naive,” Emma’s laugh was cruel. “Lucas Sinclair made it clear–anyone who helps the Cross family becomes Sinclair Industries‘ enemy. Good luck.”
The dial tone felt like a slap. Madison frantically scrolled through her contacts, calling every socialite who used to
fawn over her.
The rejections were identical.
“Bitches! All of them!” She hurled her phone at the wall, the device exploding into pieces.
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Her father collapsed back into his chair: “There’s only one option left… you have to go beg Lucas. You two were together, after all…”
“Of course I’m going!”
Outside Sinclair Tower, Madison stared in disbelief as security blocked her path.
“Open your fucking eyes and see who I am!” she screamed hysterically. “I’m your Mr. Sinclair’s fiancée!”
The guard’s expression never changed: “Miss Cross, you are not. And Mr. Sinclair specifically instructed us not to
admit any member of the Cross family.”
“You’re lying!” Madison tried to force her way past, but two guards grabbed her arms and dragged her back. “Lucas!
LUCAS! GET OUT HERE!”
Her coat tore in the struggle, exposing her soaked blouse underneath–a picture of desperation.
She screamed his name until her voice cracked, drawing stares from passersby.
Rain intensified as Madison collapsed on the steps of Sinclair Tower, water mixing with tears as her carefully ipplied makeup ran down her face.
she pulled out a backup phone with shaking hands, dialing the number she knew by heart.
The number you have dialed is busy…”
Again. Still busy.
enth attempt, someone finally answered.
he sobbed. “Why are you doing this to me? What did I do wrong?”
ence stretched for several seconds before Lucas’s arctic voice came through: “What you did? Do I need to spell it
but again?”
Madison opened her mouth but no sound came.
“Oh,” Lucas continued, his tone casual as discussing weather, “tomorrow at 10 AM, bring your father to the 23rd loor of Meridian Tower. This is your last chance.”
The call ended. Madison sat paralyzed in the rain, finally understanding what true desperation felt like.
The next morning, when Madison dragged her exhausted body back to the Cross mansion, she found her father staring blankly at the TV news.
On screen, a financial reporter was broadcasting:
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Chapter 15
Sinclair Industries announced this morning the complete acquisition of Cross Corporation, in what industry analysts are calling a stunning hostile takeover…*
Her father turned to her with bloodshot eyes: “He said 10 AM, right? We still… we still have hope.”
Madison looked at her father’s hair, gone completely white overnight, and shivered.
She had a sinking feeling that Lucas’s so–called “last chance” would be anything but salvation.
But they had no choice left.
My Husband’s Guide to Losing
