Chapter 7 - The Collapse of Thorne Holdings
The trial of Zayn Thorne was the largest corporate and criminal scandal Oceanside City had seen in a generation. The local papers called it The Emerald Split, named after the green suit Audrey had worn when she pulled the plug on his empire.
The evidence compiled by Julian Vance and the state auditors left no room for a defense. The pharmacy ledger, the forged signature cards, and the testimony of the private specialist—who pled guilty to medical conspiracy in exchange for a reduced sentence—painted a picture of a man who had systematically attempted to destroy his wife's mental and physical autonomy for financial gain.
Zayn’s mother, the woman who had spent five years making passive-aggressive comments about Audrey’s empty arms, tried to visit the Robinson studio to beg for mercy. Audrey didn't even grant her an appointment; Elise had her escorted from the property by building security before she could step past the lobby.
By the time the winter snows began to dust the coastal cliffs, the final corporate decree was issued. Thorne-Oceanside Logistics was dissolved, its assets, shipping lanes, and equipment absorbed entirely into the Robinson Global Group. Zayn’s name was stripped from every plaque, every contract, and every corporate ledger in the state.
Sitting in a standard cell at the state correctional facility, wearing an orange jumpsuit that made his once-crisp navy suits feel like a lifetime away, Zayn sat at a metal table. His lawyer sat across from him, sliding a final legal document across the scratched surface.
"What is this?" Zayn asked, his voice hollow and cracked from months of isolation.
"It’s the final divorce decree, Zayn," the lawyer said, his tone professional and cold. "Audrey Robinson has been granted a absolute dissolution without any alimony or asset division. The court has also finalized the permanent adoption of Chloe by the Robinson estate. Her surname has been legally changed to Robinson. You have no legal relationship to the child, the fortune, or the company."
Zayn looked at the paper. There was no signature line for him. The judge had signed it under an executive emergency order due to his criminal status.
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"She won," Zayn whispered, his fingers curling into the edge of the metal table until his nails turned white. "She took everything."
"You gave it to her, Zayn," the lawyer said, packing his briefcase and standing up to leave. "When you decided to treat a woman's body like an investment strategy, you forgot that some assets know how to liquidate the manager."
