Chapter 5 - The Trap is Set
Ethan didn't release a statement. He didn't film a counter-video. He remained entirely silent, letting the public outrage against him build to a fever pitch. He let Linda and his sisters believe they were winning.
Believing they had the upper hand, Linda sent Ethan a text message from a burner phone.
“Ethan. If you drop the forgery charges, sign over the rights to the San Diego house, and give us a monthly stipend of twenty thousand dollars, we will take down the video and release a statement saying it was all a misunderstanding. If you don’t, we will go to the local TV news stations tomorrow morning and ruin your career permanently. You have until tonight at 8 PM. Meet us at the house.”
Ethan stared at the text. A slow, predatory smile crept across his face.
"Arthur," Ethan called his lawyer. "Are the forensic teams and the police ready?"
"They are ready, Ethan. But are you sure you want to do this live?" Arthur asked, a hint of apprehension in his voice.
"They used the internet to destroy my life and almost kill my family," Ethan replied coldly. "It’s only fair I use the same stage to destroy theirs."
At exactly 7:45 PM, Linda, Chloe, Madison, and Olivia arrived at the flawless San Diego house. They used their old key, only to find the door unlocked. The house was dark, save for a single light emitting from the luxury living room.
They walked in, their heels clicking loudly on the hardwood floor.
Ethan was sitting on the sofa, a glass of water on the table in front of him. He looked defeated. His head was down, his shoulders slumped.
"Well, well, well," Madison sneered, crossing her arms. "Look who finally crawled back. I told you he’d break, Mom. He loves his precious career too much."
Linda walked forward like a victorious queen, tossing a legal contract onto the table in front of Ethan. "Sign it, Ethan. Drop the ridiculous forgery charges, give us the house, and ensure our financial security. Do this, and we remain a family. We can forget Emily and that premature mistake in the hospital ever happened."
Ethan flinched at the words premature mistake. He looked up, his face devoid of emotion.
"You really don't care about Emily at all, do you?" Ethan asked softly. "Or my son? Your grandson, mother?"
"Grandson?" Linda laughed, a harsh, ugly sound. "That girl trapped you, Ethan! She was a nobody from a middle-class background trying to leech off our family wealth! We did you a favor by putting her in her place. And as for her falling... Madison barely touched her. She’s just a dramatic, fragile little girl who couldn't handle a few dishes."
"So you admit it," Ethan said, leaning back. "Madison pushed her."
"She gave her a nudge to get out of her face, yes!" Madison snapped impatiently. "Who cares? She’s fine, isn't she? Now sign the damn papers, Ethan! We don't have all night. We have an interview with Channel 4 News tomorrow morning if you don't."
Ethan looked at the legal document on the table. Then, he looked up at the corner of the living room ceiling.
Linda followed his gaze and noticed a small, high-definition camera mounted on the wall, its tiny red light blinking. But it wasn't a standard security camera. It was connected to a professional streaming rig sitting on the kitchen counter.
"What is that?" Linda’s voice suddenly faltered.
Ethan reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. He turned the screen toward them.
It was a Facebook Live broadcast.
The title of the stream: The Truth About The Vance Family.
The viewer count was climbing exponentially: 50,000... 100,000... 250,000 people. The comments section was moving so fast it was a blur of outrage, shock, and disgust. The entire conversation, Madison’s confession about pushing a pregnant woman, Linda’s admission of the blackmail, and their hatred for the baby—had just been broadcast live to a quarter of a million people.
"You... you're broadcasting this?" Chloe gasped, her face turning translucent with horror.
"Every single word," Ethan said calmly.
Just then, the front door of the house was kicked open.
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Four uniform San Diego police officers, accompanied by two detectives and Arthur Pendelton, stormed into the living room.
"Linda Vance? Madison Vance?" the lead detective called out, pulling out a set of steel handcuffs. "You are under arrest for grand larceny, identity theft, commercial forgery, and felony aggravated assault on a pregnant woman."
