The Billionaire's Lost Flame

The first stone hit the glass door with a sharp, sickening crack.

Katherine flinched, the sound vibrating through her teeth. She turned just in time to see a second rock strike the museum’s entrance, spiderwebbing the glass as a roar rose from the sidewalk.

“Give us our money back!”

“Scammer!”

“You stole from us!”

The first stone hit the glass door with a sharp, sickening crack.

Her heart slammed painfully against her ribs. Only minutes ago, she had been standing in the center of the exhibition hall; her parents’ legacy, the Anderson Museum of Fine Arts, welcoming guests in like any other day.

Now, she stood on the cold pavement, boxed in by a ring of angry faces, sweating uniformed men, and a bright red seal pasted across the glass double doors.

SOLD.

The word screamed at her in bold, red ink.

“No—no, this is wrong,” Katherine whispered in disbelief.

She surged forward, reaching for the door handle as if touching it might undo everything. Before her fingers could close around the wood, two men in tactical vests seized her arms and yanked her back.

“Stop it! Don’t do this!” Katherine cried, her voice cracking as she lunged for the door handle.

Her heels scraped uselessly against the pavement, the friction sending a jarring ache up her legs.

“You can’t shut this place down!” she screamed, struggling against their iron grip. “This museum belongs to me! I am the legal curator! Who authorized this?”

A short man, who she assumed was the leader sighed as if she were nothing more than an inconvenience. He handed her a thin stack of papers without even meeting her eyes.

“If you have an issue, take it up with the court,” he said flatly. “These are legal directives.”

Her fingers trembled as she grabbed the papers. She scanned it, the words blurring at first before they sharpened.

Property Transfer: Approved.

Seller: Robert Anderson.

Her uncle’s name stared back at her like a slap.

“No…” Katherine muttered, her knees weakened.

She staggered back, blinking rapidly, hoping the letters might disappear but it didn't.

And Robert, the man who had promised her father on his deathbed that he would protect Katherine and her legacy, had just sold the last property that was on her name like a piece of junk.

Before she could speak again, the papers were snatched from her hand. The men turned away, heading for their car.

“Wait!” Katherine rushed after them, her pride forgotten.

She grabbed the sleeve of the lead officer's sleeve.

“You can't just leave! This is fraud! My uncle doesn't have the right, he can't sell what isn't his!”

The man shook her off with a grunt, entering the SUV like nothing was said. The doors slammed shut with a finality that made her flinch and as the vehicle pulled away, leaving a cloud of acrid dust in its wake, Katherine felt the last of her protection vanish.

That was when the crowd turned fully against her.

“I knew