Samantha stepped forward, her voice sharp. “This is a private dispute between a bitter wife and her husband. The board has no place in your marital issues, Claire.”

“This isn’t a marital issue, Samantha,” I said, turning to face her. “This is corporate grand larceny.”

I pulled out the next stack of papers, the ones detailing the financial liabilities.

“Preston has leveraged Hayes Enterprises’ real estate portfolio to secure personal loans,” I explained to the room.

“If those loans default next month, the bank seizes the Park Avenue building and our holdings in Chicago.”

The board members began whispering urgently among themselves.

A woman named Evelyn, who had been my mother’s closest friend, looked at Preston with disgust.

“Is this true, Preston?” Evelyn asked. “Did you put the legacy properties up as collateral without board approval?”

“Of course not,” Preston stammered, his confident facade beginning to crack. “Claire is misinterpreting standard debt-restructuring protocols.”

“Then explain why the loan funds were deposited directly into a Swiss account under your name,” I said.

I laid the wire transfer receipts on the table.

The room fell completely silent.