flash
Melissa kissed my forehead, her lips cool and practiced, leaving behind the faint scent of expensive French vanilla and deception. / Chapter 6 / 10

Chapter 6 - THE FEDERAL RAID"What are you talking about?" Melissa demanded, her voice rising to a shrill pitch. "I hold the durable power of attorney! I run Caldwell Marine! You can't just—"

"Actually, Melissa, you don't hold anything anymore," Arthur interrupted smoothly, stepping forward to hand her a sheaf of papers. "At 11:45 PM, a federal judge signed an emergency injunction freezing all personal, corporate, and offshore accounts tied to L&M Holdings, based on credible evidence of attempted murder, corporate fraud, and identity theft."

One of the federal agents stepped forward, pulling a pair of steel handcuffs from his belt.

"Melissa Alvarez Caldwell, you are under arrest for attempted premeditated murder, administration of restricted toxins, and industrial wire fraud," the agent stated coldly, grabbing her arms behind her back.

Click.

The handcuffs locked into place.

Melissa thrashed against the agent, her corporate armor shattering completely as she glared at me with pure, unadulterated venom.

"You planned this!" she screamed, her voice echoing off the high foyer ceilings as they dragged her toward the door. "You pathetic, lying old man! You’ll never run that company again! The board is mine! The contracts are mine! You’ll rot in the dirt without me!"

"The board held an emergency nocturnal vote ten minutes ago, Melissa," I said calmly, stepping forward to watch her get led out into the flashing red and blue lights of the police cruisers waiting in the driveway. "And they unanimously reinstated the founder's bloodline. Have a nice eternity."

The heavy front door closed, cutting off her shrill screams.

Silence settled back over the Caldwell estate—a clean, peaceful silence that hadn't existed in five years.

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