Vanessa, sensing the shift in power, took a step back, her earlier smugness replaced with uncertainty. This was no longer the golden opportunity she had envisioned; the foundation she had hoped to stand on was crumbling beneath her.

Emily, still composed, continued. “I allowed you to take the reins because I believed you’d steer this family toward happiness. But now, it’s clear that you’ve gone too far, Richard. You’ve not only betrayed our marriage but also underestimated me gravely. The villa belongs to me, and should I choose, I could ask you to leave this instant.”