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The digital deadbolt beeped, a sharp electronic chord slicing through the frozen silence of the kitchen at 6:15 AM. / Chapter 5 / 19

Chapter 5

Fiona clutched her chest, her face turning an alarming shade of grayish-blue as the devastating reality of her ruined social standing and collapsing financial empire crashed down on her like a tidal wave.

“No... no, this isn't real! This is a nightmare! Julian, fix this! Tell them it’s all lies!” Fiona shrieked, grabbing her son’s arm with claw-like fingers, shaking him violently. “We have money! We are the Vances! Tell these peasants to get out!”

Julian stood paralyzed, completely catatonic, staring at the flashing red lights of the news cameras broadcasting his utter ruin to thousands of live viewers across the state of Illinois.

“There is no money left, Fiona,” I said, my voice echoing clearly through the live microphones clipped to my lapel. “The condo is under a federal lis pendens title freeze. The bank accounts are locked. And the sixty dishes you demanded for your birthday?”

I turned slowly to face the camera crews, offering a cold, flawless smile to millions of viewers watching at home.

“Course number sixty is served: absolute, public, unapologetic ruin.”

Before Fiona could let out another shriek, two uniformed Chicago police officers pushed their way through the front door, stepping past the news crews with official papers in hand.

“Julian Vance? And Fiona Vance?” the lead officer announced loudly, holding up a pair of polished steel handcuffs. “You are being formally detained for questioning regarding corporate financial fraud, embezzlement, and malicious domestic confinement. You have the right to remain silent.”

Julian let out a pathetic, animalistic whimper as the heavy cold steel clicked tightly around his wrists. His expensive Tom Ford suit crumpled as the officers forced his hands behind his back and shoved him toward the private elevator.

Fiona collapsed onto the imported leather sofa, weeping hysterically into her mink shawl as the camera flashes blinded her from every angle, broadcasting her ultimate disgrace to the entire city.

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I stepped past the door frame, my leather shoes clicking softly against the linoleum floor.

I stepped past the door frame, my leather shoes clicking softly against...

The screech of the chopper’s rotor blades vibrated directly through the freezing slate beneath my spine. The blinding white vortex of snow kicked up by the downdraft burned my eyes, but I forced my lids open, locking my gaze onto the amber visor of the rescue specialist dropping out of the sky.

The screech of the chopper’s rotor blades vibrated directly through the...

Daniel stepped toward the bed, his polished leather shoes squeaking against the pristine hospital linoleum. He reached for the tray table, his fingers brushing the edge of the papers. His voice was low, coated in a practiced, corporate calm that made my stomach churn worse than the spiked blood pressure.

Daniel stepped toward the bed, his polished leather shoes squeaking agai...

Darcy stood beside me, folding her legal portfolio with a look of fierce, unadulterated triumph.

“Well, Sloan,” Darcy whispered with a grin, watching the police drag the parasites out of the penthouse. “That has got to be the best sixty-course meal ever served in the history of Chicago.”

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