Chapter 6 - The Economic ExecutionFor three days, I played the part of a defeated, broken father.
I let Marcus file his emergency custody petition in court. I let him brag to the press that he was taking control of Caldwell Systems. I let Vanessa’s high-priced defense attorneys claim she was an innocent victim of my "neglect and emotional instability."
On Thursday morning, the emergency custody hearing took place at the Pitkin County Courthouse.
Marcus sat at the plaintiff's table in an expensive tailored suit, flanked by three top-tier family law attorneys. He looked at me across the aisle with a victorious grin.
Vanessa was brought in from county jail in orange jumpsuits, sitting next to her defense team, hoping Marcus’s victory would secure her bail.
"Mr. Caldwell," Judge Eleanor Vance (no relation to Marcus) stated sternly, looking down from the bench. "The plaintiff has submitted certified DNA documentation indicating he is the biological father of the four minors. Do you have a response before I grant temporary custody to Mr. Vance?"
My lawyer stood up smoothly. "Your Honor, we do not dispute Mr. Vance’s DNA documentation."
Marcus smirked and adjusted his tie. Vanessa gasped in relief.
"However," my attorney continued, "we offer into evidence Exhibit A: The certified master ledger from the National Reproductive Health Institute, alongside the sworn testimony of Dr. Aris Thorne, the head embryologist."
Dr. Thorne walked through the courtroom doors, escorted by federal marshals.
Marcus’s smirk instantly vanished.
"Dr. Thorne," my lawyer asked, "can you explain what Mr. Vance did eight years ago?"
"Eight years ago," Dr. Thorne testified under oath, "Marcus Vance paid me $200,000 to substitute his genetic material into Mrs. Claire Caldwell’s IVF procedure. However, Mrs. Caldwell discovered the plot. With her authorization, we faked the lab receipt given to Mr. Vance while using a completely independent, verified donor pool. Mr. Vance’s DNA was destroyed."
The courtroom went wild. Gavel strikes echoed through the room.
"Silence!" Judge Vance shouted. She turned to Marcus, her eyes icy cold. "Mr. Vance, did you submit a forged or fraudulently obtained medical document to this court under oath?"
"No! That's a lie! She's lying!" Marcus screamed, jumping to his feet.
"Furthermore, Your Honor," my lawyer added, handing a thick folder to the bailiff, "while Mr. Vance was busy trying to steal Mr. Caldwell’s children, federal agents executed a warrant on his offshore accounts. We have definitive proof that Mr. Vance and Mrs. Vanessa Caldwell systematically poisoned the late Claire Caldwell over a period of fourteen months to access her trust fund."
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Vanessa shrieked, slamming her hands on the table. "It was his idea! Marcus told me to put the arsenic in her tea! He promised me half the company!"
CHAPTER 6 HOOK: The courtroom erupted into chaos as Vanessa confessed to murder on live court audio. But the biggest shock was still waiting at home.
