Chapter 8 - The Evidence
"You thought I was naive, Sterling," I said, pulling a small silver flash drive from my purse and handing it to the federal prosecutors who had just walked into the ballroom alongside Newport law enforcement. "You thought because I kept quiet, I didn't see what you were doing."
Sterling’s eyes went wide with pure terror. "What is that?"
"It's six years of financial ledgers," I revealed. "Including the offshore shell accounts you set up in the Cayman Islands to siphon money away from your investors—and the wire transfers you made to pay off city inspectors for your shoddy construction projects."
The lead federal officer stepped forward, pulling a pair of steel handcuffs from his belt. "Sterling Montgomery, you are under arrest for federal wire fraud, tax evasion, and grand larceny."
"No! Wait! Genevieve, please!" Sterling screamed as the metal cuffs clicked tightly around his wrists. "Think of Hazel! She needs her father!"
I looked down at Hazel, who was resting her head comfortably against my father's shoulder, completely safe and loved.
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"Hazel needed a father six hours ago when she was crying in the foyer," I said coldly. "All she saw was a coward."
As the officers dragged Sterling out of the ballroom past hundreds of laughing, mocking socialites, Victoria tried to slip out behind them, but tax authorities were already waiting in the lobby to serve her family with immediate asset freezing notices.
