Ex Wife's Collapse After Divorce novel Chapter 101

Chapter 101

The whole of Stellaris moved.

Orders went down from the executive floor in less than ten minutes. The legal team started reviewing active cooperation terms. The investment team made calls. Procurement adjusted internal lists. Business development froze channels. People who had worked with Lockwood one day before suddenly received polite but icy notices the next.

It spread fast.

By noon, rumors were already moving through the business circle.

Stellaris International Trading had started targeting Lockwood Industries.

No one knew why. But everyone knew what that meant.

Vivian had barely settled back into her office chair-still thinking about the Nathan incident, still telling herself it was nothing-when her assistant burst through the door.

“Ms. Lockwood.” His face was white. “We have a problem. A serious problem.”

Vivian looked up. “What now?”

“Stellaris International Trading.” He swallowed hard. “They’ve initiated targeted measures against us. Three of our suppliers have frozen contracts in the last hour. Henderson and Liu from R&D just received offers from a Stellaris subsidiary. And the Meridian Group deal-they’ve gone completely silent. Won’t return calls.”

Vivian stood up so fast her chair rolled back and hit the wall.

“Why?” The word came out sharp, almost shrill. “Why would Stellaris target us? We’re-we’re not even in their league. What could we possibly have done to-”

She stopped herself. Pressed her palms flat against the desk.

“Is there any way to reach their CEO? Aurora Sinclair? Or at least someone in their senior leadership? We need to open a dialogue, find out what this is about, negotiate-”

Her assistant swallowed. Hard. “Actually,” he said, “about that.”

Vivian looked up.

“Aurora Sinclair sent a message. Personally. Through her people.”

Vivian’s heart hammered against her ribs. “What did she say?”

The assistant hesitated. Shifted his weight from one foot to the other.

“She said-” He cleared his throat. “She said to tell you to manage your little boyfriend. And to stop letting him pull dirty tricks behind people’s backs.”

She didn’t knock.

The door swung open and Damian looked up from his desk. His expression shifted instantly-concern, warmth, the practiced softness he wore like a second skin. He stood and moved toward her.

“Vivian, I heard about Stellaris. This is outrageous-completely unprovoked. If you need support, I’m right here. Whatever you need, I’ll-”

Vivian shoved his hands away.

The gesture was sharp. Dismissive. The kind of rejection that left no room for misinterpretation.

Damian’s expression flickered. Just for a fraction of a second-surprise, then something darker, before the mask slid back into place.

“Vivian? What’s wrong?”

“Stellaris targeting Lockwood.” Her voice was ice. “Is that because of you?”

Damian’s smile froze.

“Did you go after Ethan?” she said. Each word was a blade. “Behind my back. Did you do something to him?”