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The beam of the heavy-duty headlamp cut through the blinding blizzard, illuminating the crimson streaks of blood frozen against the white snow. / Chapter 6 / 32

Chapter 6 - The Fall of the House of PrescottWithin forty-eight hours, the empire Brandon had tried to build crumbled into dust.

The arrest of Brandon Prescott and Gretchen Vance made national headlines. Financial news networks plastered their faces across screens nationwide, dubbing the case "The Ice-Cliff Betrayal." Forensic accountants tore through Brandon’s personal accounts, discovering not only the fraudulent life insurance policy but also millions of dollars embezzled from Victoria’s personal corporate accounts.

Seated behind the heavy mahogany desk in her penthouse office, Victoria watched the news broadcast on a wall-mounted flat screen. A soft knock sounded at the door.

"Come in," she said.

Marcus Vance—the rescue specialist who had saved her life on the mountain—stepped into the office, holding a secure carrier basket. Inside wrapped in a soft blue blanket was a sleeping infant.

"How are our two favorite survivors doing?" Marcus asked with a warm smile, setting the carrier gently on the desk.

Victoria stood up, walking over to look down at her son. Her face softened completely, the hard edges of vengeance melting away into pure maternal love. She lifted the baby into her arms, pressing him close to her chest.

"We’re doing wonderful, Marcus," Victoria said softly. "Thanks to you, we have a very bright future ahead of us."

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The scent of the Columbus bakery pastries—butter, flaky crust, and sweet raspberry—now made my stomach turn. Julian sat at the mahogany dining table, casually biting into a croissant while tapping away on his tablet.

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The wind off the Atlantic whipped salt spray across the deck of the dolphin-watching boat, but the air between Emily, Caleb, and Rachel felt frozen in time.

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"The police wrapped up the search warrant for Brandon’s downtown office this morning," Marcus added, leaning against the edge of the desk. "They found passports, burner phones, and tickets to the Cayman Islands. He was planning to run the moment the insurance check cleared."

"Let him run," Victoria replied coldly, her eyes locking onto the city skyline outside the floor-to-ceiling windows. "Every asset he owns is frozen. His accounts are seized. By the time trial starts, he won't even be able to afford a public defender who cares."

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Chapter 7 - The Interrogation RoomUnder the harsh fluorescent lights of the county jail holding cell, Brandon Prescott sat with his head in his hands. The immaculate Armani suit was rumpled and stained with rain. His hair was disheveled, and the billionaire playboy facade was completely shattered.
Chapter 8 - Shadows in the CourtroomThe courtroom of the Federal District Court of Montana was packed to maximum capacity. Journalists, legal experts, and curious onlookers spilled into the aisles, eager to witness the trial of the decade.
Chapter 9 - The Final VerdictAfter three weeks of relentless testimony, digital forensics, and Gretchen Vance's tearful cooperation as a witness for the prosecution, the jury returned with their verdict in record time—just two hours.
Chapter 10 - Dawn of a New EmpireSix months later, the morning sun bathed the snow-capped peaks of Glacier National Park in a brilliant golden glow.
Chapter 11 - Whispers Behind BarsThe iron bars of the federal penitentiary in Florence, Colorado, cast long, jagged shadows across Brandon Prescott’s concrete floor. Once accustomed to silk sheets and customized penthouses, Brandon now spent his days staring at chipped gray walls, the silence interrupted only by the distant, metallic clanging of heavy security doors.
Chapter 12 - The Shadow PartnerBack in New York, Victoria Prescott sat at the head of the polished oak boardroom table. Flanked by her top corporate strategists, she listened intently as her chief financial officer delivered his report.

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