Chapter 4 - The Audit Begins"Let her go," I instructed the security guards.
They released Natalie, who stumbled back into Jackson’s chest, panting, her hair disheveled, mascara running down her cheeks. She glared at me with pure venom, her wedding day fantasy utterly vaporized.
"You're dead to us," Jackson choked out, his voice shaking with a mixture of shock and fury. "Both of you. You're cutting off your own son over a misunderstanding? Over a prank?"
"A prank?" I stepped closer, my voice cold as ice. "She broke into my bedroom, destroyed my property, physically assaulted my appearance, and plotted to institutionalize me so she could steal everything I own. And you call it a prank? You deserve each other, Jackson. But you won't do it on my dime."
Marcus Vance stepped forward, opening his leather portfolio and pulling out a stack of documents. He handed a copy directly to Jackson.
"What is this?" Jackson muttered, looking down at the papers.
"That," Marcus said smoothly, "is a forensic audit of every single asset, gift, and allowance transferred to Natalie and her immediate family over the past fourteen months. Totaling roughly four point two million dollars."
Natalie’s face went ghastly pale. She tried to snatch the papers, but Marcus pulled them back.
"We discovered some fascinating discrepancies," Marcus continued, raising his voice so the nearest guests could hear. "Shell companies registered in the Cayman Islands under maiden names. Real estate purchases in Miami funded entirely by corporate accounts bearing Frank Vance’s signature without authorization. To put it simply, Mr. Vance—your bride hasn't just been waiting for tomorrow's transfer. She's been siphoning your inheritance behind your back for over a year."
Jackson slowly turned his head to look at Natalie, the horror dawning in his eyes. "Natalie? Is that true? What is he talking about?"
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Natalie stammered, stepping back, waving her hands frantically. "Jacks, don't listen to them! They're fabricating documents! They're trying to destroy us!"
"The federal authorities have already been notified of the wire fraud, Ms. Sterling," Marcus said calmly, closing his portfolio. "The investigation started three days ago."
