Chapter 4 - The Poisoned WellThree days later, Arthur was released on a high bail, posted by his mother, Eleanor, who had liquidated her own retirement savings to pull her golden boy out of jail.
Eleanor was a fierce, arrogant woman who had raised Arthur and Brooke to believe they were royalty, destined for wealth and status. She had always treated me like a low-class intruder who got lucky by marrying her son.
I was sitting in Victoria Caldwell’s glass office when Eleanor barged in without knocking, her designer handbag swinging like a weapon.
"You ungrateful, malicious little snake!" Eleanor shrieked, pointing a manicured finger at me. "Look what you’ve done to my family! Arthur is facing prison! Brooke’s business is ruined! You ruined their lives over a spilled cup of coffee!"
I didn't flinch. I slowly turned my head, allowing Eleanor to get a full, clear view of the deep, red, raw burn scars stretching down my cheek and onto my neck.
Eleanor faltered for a fraction of a second, but her venom quickly returned. "Accidents happen! He was stressed! You pushed him!"
"I stood there, Eleanor," I said, my voice ice-cold and steady. "I stood there while your son scalded my flesh because I wouldn't give your daughter my dead father's money. And while he did it, your daughter laughed."
"It was family money!" Eleanor raged. "Marriage means sharing! You hoarded that money like a miser while my children struggled!"
Victoria Caldwell stepped forward, placing a thick dossier on the glass desk.
"Mrs. Vance," Victoria said calmly, "you might want to lower your voice. Because if you open your mouth again, we will discuss the $200,000 you personally received from Arthur's illegal offshore shell accounts last Christmas."
Eleanor’s rage vanished, replaced by sudden, paralyzing fear. "What... what are you talking about?"
"Arthur didn't just steal from Aegis Credit to support Brooke," I said, leaning forward. "He was paying off your gambling debts at the casino in Macau. We have the wire transfers, Eleanor. Every single one. Signed, sealed, and traced back to my father’s estate."
Eleanor took a step back, her hand flying to her throat.
"If Arthur goes down, Eleanor," I whispered, "you go down with him as a co-conspirator. So here is my offer."
I slid a single document across the table.
"A full confession from Arthur regarding the assault and the financial fraud. In exchange, I won't name you in the federal RICO indictment."
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"You... you're a monster," Eleanor choked out, tears of panic brimming in her eyes.
"No," I replied, staring her dead in the eye. "I was a victim. Now, I'm just the landlord collecting the debt."
