Chapter 104: The Fall of Taylons

The boardroom was suffocatingly silent as Taylor stood before the members, his head bowed, his once-commanding presence reduced to a shadow of defeat.

His revelation of the secret loans had left them speechless, the number was in millions and Taylons Enterprises being used as the collateral overwhelmed the board members.

Taylor's voice trembled as he tried to explain.

"I did it to save the company," he muttered, his eyes darting to the board members, hoping for a shred of understanding. "I thought... I thought I could turn things around before it came to this.".

Mr. Donovan huffed loudly from the end of the table, rather disappointed. "Taylor, you gambled with everything," he said wearily. "And now the company is paying for it."

The anger in their faces was palpable.

Mrs. Lawson leaned into his view, her sharp gaze on Taylor. "Did you ever think to consult us? To seek advice? Or was your pride too great to admit you needed help?"

Taylor's fists clenched, digging his nails deep into the skin of his palms. "I thought I could handle it," he spat out between his teeth. "I didn't want to burden anyone."

A rustle of disbelieving murmur swept across the room.

Burden?

The very suggestion sounded preposterous to them now in view of the doomsday outcome of his secretiveness.

Nicole sat quietly, her face unreadable, though inside, she felt a mix of satisfaction and sadness. She had wanted Taylor to fall, to feel the weight of his choices.

But to see him crumble -- a man deprived of pride and legacy, touched something deep inside her.

Maybe it was a surge of pity, or perhaps a faint echo of what love she thought she had for him.

Yet, she hated the fact the she still feel something for him, after these years.

The subsequent days were a rush of desperation; the board struggled around, trying to salvage this mess by pulling in all kinds of favors in an effort to hunt for investors who could bail them out.

It was too late, though; the bank's notice was final.

Three days later, Taylons Enterprises were no longer theirs as the bank took control, together with the last shred of dignity which the Fury family had managed to cling to.

Taylor sat alone in his now-empty office, staring out the window at the city skyline.

His desk, once piled high with plans and contracts, was bare.

The walls, stripped of their accolades, reflected his hollowed-out state. He had lost everything—his company, his reputation, and his sense of purpose.

Veronica found him there, her heels clicking against the polished floor.

She looked around the bleak office, her lips pursed into a thin line.

"Taylor," she started with a softer-than-usual tone. "It's time to go."

He didn't turn to face her. "I failed," he whispered. "I let you down. I let everyone down."

For one moment, Veronica's tough mask cracked when she laid a hand on his shoulder.

“We’ll recover,” she said firmly, though even she wasn’t sure she believed it. “We always do.”

The Fury mansion was a flurry of activity as movers packed up belongings, the once-grand home slowly losing its character.

Sarah sat in the living room, her hands clasped tightly in her lap, watching in silence as memories were boxed away.

The tension in the air was thick, the weight of their downfall pressing down on everyone.

Taylor entered the room, his face pale and drawn. “We’ll find a smaller place,” he said, though his tone lacked conviction. “We’ll start over.”

Sarah's eyes flashed to him, darting from their little son to Taylor, anger and sadness mingling in their depths. "Start over? Taylor, do you even know what has taken place? This isn't just losing a house or a company. It is about the loss of trust, of everything that we built."

Whatever Taylor could have said was cut off by the sound of the front door opening as two men in suits entered, their faces serious.

The lead man, who quickly introduced himself as Detective Freeman, looked around the room before his gaze locked on Veronica.

"Ma'am," he said, taking a step toward her. "Are you Veronica Fury?"

Veronica drew to full height, head tilted defiantly high. "Yes, I am. What is this about?"

Freeman didn't flinch. "Mrs. Fury, you're under arrest for attempted murder."

There were gasps all over the room as Sarah jumped up from her chair, her hand over her mouth.

Taylor moved forward, his voice rising, "What? That's preposterous! Who are you to accuse my mother of murder?"

Freeman ignored him, nodding at his partner, Boldman, who approached Veronica with handcuffs. "You have the right to remain silent," Freeman said in an edged tone. "Anything you say may and will be used against you in the court of law."

Veronica's eyes bulged, shock and a tinge of panic first running across her eyes. "Preposterous!" she burst out. "I demand to see who has laid these accusations against me!"

Freeman's face was impassive. "That will be given to your lawyer."

As Boldman escorted Veronica towards the door, she turned back to Taylor, her voice shaking with urgency. "Call our lawyer. Now!"

Taylor stood frozen, his mind racing. Sarah reached for his arm, her grip firm. "Taylor, do something," she whispered, her voice breaking.

But he couldn't move.

He watched as his mother was escorted from the house, where the once-unshakeable confidence was now replaced with fear.

Outside, the strobe lights of the police car cut through the night and sent eerie shadows dancing across the mansion's facade.

Neighbors peeked out of their curtained windows, curious about the disturbance.

Veronica sat in the back, her hands cuffed, an angry, disbelieving expression on her face.

Taylor slumped onto the nearest chair inside the house, his head in his hands. "This cannot be happening," he muttered, "This can't be real."

Sarah sat beside him, her own shock evident. “Taylor, what if… what if it’s true?” she asked hesitantly.

He lifted his head, his eyes blazing. “Don’t even suggest that,” he snapped. “My mother would never… she wouldn’t.”