Chapter 5 - The Frozen Accounts
The lobby descended into chaotic whispers as hotel security finally stepped in—not to remove me, but to escort my weeping sister and hyperventilating mother away from the main seating area.
I wheeled myself forward, stopping right beneath the grand staircase where I had been pushed the day before. The metal brace on my leg felt heavy, but for the first time in thirty-four years, my shoulders felt entirely light.
Vesper walked up beside me, tapping her tablet screen. ""Fallon, while the spectacle was unfolding, I executed the emergency freeze on the family trust and all secondary accounts linked to your parents' holding company. The automatic injunction has been filed with the district court.""
My father, Stellin, pushed his way past a group of staring guests, his face pale, sweat beading on his forehead. He didn't look at me with anger anymore; he looked desperate.
""Fallon,"" Stellin choked out, his voice trembling as he reached for the arm of my wheelchair. ""Fallon, please. You can't do this. The family name... the business connections... if these accounts are frozen, the entire estate goes into receivership. We'll lose everything. Your mother didn't mean it, Sutton was just under wedding stress—""
I raised a single hand, stopping him dead in his tracks. My voice was steady, cold, and carried the absolute authority of someone who had survived every trap they had ever set.
""For thirty-four years, Stellin, you watched Althia and Sutton take everything I worked for,"" I said, looking him directly in the eye. ""You watched them drain my accounts, sabotage my education, and treat my body like an inconvenience. You told me to apologize after my leg was shattered. You called me dramatic while I lay bleeding on these exact stairs.""
Stellin swallowed hard, his lips trembling. ""What... what do you want?""
""I want every single dollar of my stolen trust and business capital returned with verified interest by noon tomorrow,"" I said evenly. ""I want the deed to the downtown commercial property transferred entirely to my engineering firm as restitution for corporate fraud. And I want my parents and my sister out of my life permanently.""
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""We can't do that!"" Stellin stammered. ""The commercial property belongs to the family portfolio!""
""Then enjoy explaining financial fraud to a federal judge while your assets sit in receivership for the next five years,"" I replied, nodding to Vesper. ""Let's go. We have a flight to catch back to the city.""
