Chapter 6 - The Fall of Vance Enterprises
Before Julian could utter another word of protest, the heavy oak doors at the back of the room opened again. Four plainclothes detectives from the Manhattan District Attorney's Financial Crimes Unit entered, accompanied by two uniformed state troopers.
The lead investigator, Detective Miller, marched straight down the carpet toward Table One. He pulled a gold badge and a stack of arrest warrants from his trench coat.
""Julian Vance? Victoria Pierce?"" Detective Miller announced, his voice flat and authoritative. ""You are both under arrest for grand larceny, corporate embezzlement, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit medical fraud.""
""No! You can't do this!"" Julian shrieked, thrashing against the guards as cold steel handcuffs snapped around his wrists. ""Do you know who I am? I am the president of Vance Enterprises! I built this city!""
""You didn't build anything, Julian,"" I said from the podium, watching him struggle like a child having a tantrum. ""You inherited a dying logistics firm, and for eight years, you lived luxuriously off secret subsidies drawn from my private trust. You didn't save me from poverty. I allowed you to believe you were a prince because I foolishly loved you. But you mistook my patience for weakness, and my grace for ignorance.""
Beatrice began wailing as two officers seized Victoria, pulling her out of her chair in full view of forty smartphone cameras streaming the event live on social media. ""Mother, do something!"" Beatrice cried, clutching her mother's arm. ""They're arresting him!""
Evelyn threw herself forward, trying to grab my dress as the officers dragged her son past the stage. ""Clara! Please! Have mercy! He's your husband! Think of our family name! Think of our social position!""
I stepped back slightly, looking down at the woman who had spent nearly a decade mocking my clothes, demanding I serve her tea, and insulting my deceased parents.
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""Your family name is hollow, Evelyn,"" I said quietly. ""And as for the estate you live in? It was purchased through a Sterling subsidiary before the wedding. You and Beatrice have until noon tomorrow to vacate the premises with whatever personal belongings you can carry in two suitcases. The locks are already being changed.""
Evelyn collapsed onto the carpet in a dead faint as the officers dragged Julian out into the lobby. His screams of rage echoed down the corridor until the heavy ballroom doors clicked shut, leaving behind an atmosphere of stunned, electrifying silence.
