Chapter 7 - The Federal Subpoena and the Bank Records
The atmosphere on the lawn shifted from stunned shock to chaotic panic as several of Sutton's affluent wedding guests began whispering loudly, pulling out their phones to record the unfolding drama. Realizing that the illusion of their high-society perfection had completely shattered, Althia clutched her chest dramatically, attempting a theatrical fainting spell, but nobody moved to catch her.
I gestured to Vesper—who had quietly stepped out from the front passenger seat of the medical van carrying a thick leather legal binder—to step forward. Vesper approached the altar, ignoring my parents entirely, and opened the binder to display a certified bank audit report alongside high-resolution color printouts of the financial statements. ""Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed guests,"" Vesper announced, her voice carrying the razor-sharp authority of a seasoned courtroom litigator. ""While my client, Fallon Caruso, was recovering from a severe medical trauma, her corporate startup fund was illegally accessed and drained of exactly $45,000 to finance this very event without authorization.""
Vesper turned her gaze directly toward my trembling father. ""Mr. Stellin Caruso, as the co-signatory who facilitated this unauthorized wire transfer from a restricted business account, you are formally being served with a federal writ of attachment and a civil suit for grand larceny and corporate fraud."" She held out a crisp legal document and pressed it firmly against my father's chest. Stellin stared down at the paper as if it were a venomous snake, his hands shaking so violently he dropped it onto the grass.
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""And as for the bride,"" Vesper continued smoothly, turning her attention back to Sutton, who was now sobbing hysterically into her veil, ""we have secured certified eyewitness testimony, high-definition video footage from family members, and resort security logs proving intentional battery resulting in permanent bodily harm and severe economic damages exceeding six figures.""
One of the police officers stepped forward, pulling a pair of polished steel handcuffs from his belt. He looked directly at Sutton, who backed away in sheer terror until she hit the floral archway. ""Sutton Caruso, you are being detained for questioning in connection with felony assault resulting in severe bodily injury. You have the right to remain silent..."" A collective gasp echoed among the remaining guests as the cold steel clicked around my sister's wrists, bringing her multi-thousand-dollar luxury wedding to a screeching, humiliating halt in front of all her high-society peers.
