Chapter 4 - The House of Cards Collapses
"Lies!" Evelyn shrieked, her regal composure completely shattering into frantic, ugly rage. She turned to the crowd of investors, her hands waving wildly. "This is a conspiracy! My son has suffered a psychological breakdown! He's working with extortionists!"
"Is Dr. Mercer an extortionist too, Mrs. Ashford?"
A sharp, authoritative voice cut through her screams.
Special Agent Sarah Ross of the FBI stepped through the ballroom doors, flanked by four uniformed federal marshals. She held a thick leather binder in one hand and a warrant in the other.
"Evelyn Ashford," Agent Ross declared, her voice booming through the PA system. "You are under arrest for federal kidnapping, conspiracy to commit murder, bank fraud, and witness tampering."
"You have no authority here!" Evelyn spat, backing toward the service doors. "My lawyers will have you stripped of your badge!"
"Dr. Mercer was arrested forty minutes ago," Agent Ross continued, unbothered by Evelyn’s threats. "He has already signed a full confession detailing the $500,000 wire transfer he received from your Swiss account to fake the dental records. Furthermore, federal agents are currently securing your property in Blackwood County, where we recovered the DNA evidence, security footage, and the guards you paid to keep your daughter-in-law captive."
The ballroom erupted into chaos. Board members openly shouted in disgust. The major shareholders who had been prepared to vote in favor of Evelyn’s restructuring plan immediately began tearing up their proxy ballots.
Evelyn looked around the room, searching for a single face that showed sympathy.
There was none. The society peers who had flattered her for decades now drew back in horror, shielding their faces from the news cameras that had begun flashing near the entrance.
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She turned to me, tears of pure, narcissistic rage streaming down her face. "I did it for you, Daniel! I did it to protect our family business! She was a nobody! A peasant who was going to take everything your father built!"
"My father built this company for his family," I said, stepping past her to walk toward Lena. "You destroyed this family for power."
