Chapter 17 - Shadows of the Past Re-examined
Though the criminal syndicate led by Marcus Vance had been dismantled and its leaders sentenced to decades in federal prison, the legal fallout required meticulous oversight. That afternoon, Dominic and Megan sat across from Arthur Sterling in the grand library, reviewing the final asset forfeiture audit.
Arthur adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, sliding a thick leather-bound folder across the walnut desk. "The federal marshals have officially liquidated all of Vance’s shell companies. The remaining funds—roughly forty million dollars in unallocated liquid assets—have been placed directly into the court-supervised victim restitution pool, exactly as you requested, Dom."
Megan, who had been quietly reviewing the accounting tables, looked up with a thoughtful expression. "What about the small business owners and independent contractors who were coerced or defrauded by Derek’s dummy corporations before everything collapsed? Are they getting their money back?"
"Every single cent, Megan," Arthur assured her with a warm, respectful smile. "In fact, your legal team ensured that priority restitution went straight to the families who lost their livelihoods. The state attorney general called it a masterclass in corporate reclamation."
Dominic looked at his wife with profound admiration. Even after achieving safety and unimaginable wealth, Megan’s heart remained anchored to the struggles of ordinary people. She hadn't let the luxury of the Buckhead estate erode her empathy; instead, she used her position to heal the very wounds she had once fought so hard to survive.
"Good," Dominic said firmly, closing the folder. "Make sure the press release emphasizes that this isn't just a legal victory—it’s a permanent safety net. No one should ever have to feel as helpless as Megan did when she was fighting alone."
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Arthur nodded, gathering his documents and standing up. "I'll handle the press conference for tomorrow morning. Oh, and Dom? Your mother called from Savannah. She’s planning to visit next weekend, and she explicitly demanded that Megan make her famous peach cobbler."
Megan laughed, shaking her head. "Tell her the kitchen is officially open, and I'll even bake an extra batch just for her."
