Chapter 4 - The Unmasking
The blue and red lights of three police cruisers flashed against the grand white pillars of my mansion. Two officers stood in the foyer, while Patricia stood nearby, dabbing fake tears from her eyes with a silk handkerchief. Julian had slipped out the back entrance minutes before, but Marcus’s team had already detained him at the front gate.
Rosa stood near the stairs, her head held high but her hands trembling violently. Martina and Daniela stood at the top of the staircase, peering through the banisters, terrified.
"I found it right under her mattress, Officer," Patricia sobbed dramatically, pointing at a velvet box on the table. "That necklace belonged to David's late wife. It’s worth half a million dollars! I knew she was a thief, but this is just despicable. Please, you have to take her away before she does anything else to this family!"
The lead officer, a stern man named Sergeant Miller, looked at Rosa. "Ma'am, do you have anything to say?"
"I didn't do it, Officer," Rosa said, her voice cracking. "I have worked for this family for seven years. I loved Mrs. Sarah, and I love these girls. I would never steal from them."
"Of course she’s lying!" Patricia shrieked. "She’s a professional! Officer, arrest her!"
"I wouldn't do that if I were you, Sergeant," a voice echoed through the grand foyer.
Everyone turned. The heavy oak front doors swung open, and I walked in, flanked by Harrison and two of the city's top defense attorneys.
Patricia’s eyes widened in genuine shock. "David? What... what are you doing here? Your flight—"
"My flight was as real as your love for me, Patricia," I said, my voice cold, echoing off the high ceilings.
She blinked, trying to quickly recover her composure. She rushed toward me, her arms outstretched. "Oh, thank God you're home! It’s been a nightmare here! Rosa tried to steal Sarah’s necklace! I caught her, David. I saved your family!"
I stepped aside, letting her stumble slightly. I didn't even look at her. Instead, I walked straight past her, up the first few steps of the stairs, and held my arms out to Martina and Daniela.
"Come here, sweethearts," I said softly.
The girls didn't hesitate. They sprinted down the stairs and threw themselves into my arms, sobbing. I held them tight, kissing their heads, feeling an overwhelming wave of guilt and relief.
"I’m so sorry," I whispered into their hair. "Daddy’s here. I'm never leaving again."
"David, what is the meaning of this?" Patricia demanded, her voice losing its sweetness, replaced by a sharp, defensive edge. "Why are you holding them? We need to get this thief out of our house!"
"The only thief in this house, Patricia," I said, turning to face her with a gaze that made her take a step back, "is you."
"What? Are you insane?" she laughed nervously. "I found the necklace in her room! The police are right here!"
"Sergeant Miller," I said, gesturing to Harrison. Harrison stepped forward and plugged a tablet into the large media screen mounted on the foyer wall. "I think you’ll find this very interesting."
With a click, the screen came alive.
The first video played. It was the footage from yesterday morning. The room watched in absolute silence as Patricia’s face twisted on screen, throwing Martina’s stuffed rabbit across the room, screaming at my terrified daughters, and threatening to banish them to boarding school.
Patricia’s face drained of all color. "This... this is a violation of privacy! You can't record me!"
"It’s my house, Patricia. I can record whatever I want," I replied coldly.
The next video played. It showed Patricia entering Rosa’s room earlier tonight, sliding the velvet jewelry box under the mattress, and smiling maliciously as she walked out.
"And finally," I said, as a third video showed Patricia kissing Julian on my sofa, discussing her plan to divorce me for a multi-million dollar payout by proving my home was 'unstable.'
The officers looked from the screen to Patricia. Sergeant Miller’s expression was grim.
"Patricia Vance, or should I say Patricia Jenkins," Sergeant Miller said, stepping forward with handcuffs. "You are under arrest for child endangerment, filing a false police report, grand larceny attempt, and conspiracy to commit fraud."
"No! This is a setup! David, you can't do this to me!" she screamed, thrashing as the handcuffs clicked around her wrists. "You're a monster! I’ll sue you for everything you have!"
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"Good luck with that," my attorney stepped forward, handing her a document. "This is a void of your prenuptial agreement due to fraudulent representation, along with an immediate restraining order. You are officially broke, Patricia."
As the officers dragged a screaming, hysterical Patricia out the front door, the heavy silence of the mansion was finally broken. She was gone. The nightmare was over.
