flash
The document sitting on Judge Vance’s desk was not a defense statement. It was a certified forensic financial audit bearing the seal of the Department of Justice and the Vanguard Investment Group. / Chapter 15 / 20

Chapter 15 - The Poisoned Pen

I looked at the two armed officers, then back at Marcus. I didn't panic. I didn't flinch.

"You haven't checked your phone in the last ten minutes, have you, Marcus?" I asked softly.

Marcus frowned. "What?"

"I learned a long time ago never to walk into a room controlled by an enemy without changing the locks first," I said.

Marcus reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out his phone. The screen was flashing bright red with urgent automated notifications from the Federal Reserve and the Securities and Exchange Commission.

ALL ASSETS OF STERCORP HOLDINGS FROZEN BY EMERGENCY ORDER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

SPECIAL AGENT MARCUS STERLING SUSPENDED EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.

Marcus’s eyes widened in horror. "What did you do?!"

"While I was at the detention facility speaking with Eleanor, my forensic team uploaded your private encryption keys—the ones I copied from your laptop last night—to the federal master network," I explained coldly. "Every offshore account held by The Apex Syndicate has been seized. Every communication between you and Richard Vance has been released to the press."

The two Vanguard officers behind me glanced at each other, then looked at their phones. The badges on their belts suddenly felt heavy.

"She's telling the truth," one of the officers said, stepping back from Marcus. "The Director just issued an emergency arrest warrant for Marcus Sterling."

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She sl@pped my 66-year-old mother across the face, called her ""the maid,"" and proudly told everyone the house belonged to her. She had no idea I was the real owner—and by the end of that dinner, her perfect little lie would explode in front of every guest.

She sl@pped my 66-year-old mother across the face, called her ""the maid...

I did not scream. I did not hurl insults, smash crystal, or offer Evelyn Bennett the spectacle she so desperately craved.

I did not scream. I did not hurl insults, smash crystal, or offer Evelyn...

The door to the guest room locked with a quiet, satisfying click. Outside, the muffled sounds of Derek shouting about the ruined risotto faded into the background, drowned out by the thunderous beat of my own heart.

The door to the guest room locked with a quiet, satisfying click. Outsid...

Marcus backed toward the floor-to-ceiling glass window, his face contorted with rage. "You little viper! I made you! I gave you your education! I built you into what you are!"

"You didn't make me, Marcus," I said, taking a step toward him. "You underestimated me. Just like Eleanor did. Just like Julian did. Just like the Vances did."

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