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The sound of shattering crystal echoed like a gunshot across the sunlit courtyard of the Montgomery estate. Up on the second-floor balcony, Eleanor Montgomery stood frozen, her manicured fingers trembling where her champagne flute had just slipped from her grip. / Chapter 36 / 40

Chapter 36 - The Final Surrender

The two armed security contractors standing by the elevator looked nervously at Julian Jr., sensing the shifting power dynamic in the room.

Julian Jr. slammed the tablet down onto the desk, his face turning a furious shade of crimson. "You think a piece of paper stops me? I have enough liquid capital outside of Veritas to crush your supply chains and bury your foundation in litigation for the next decade!"

"Try it," a calm, authoritative voice echoed from the elevator vestibule.

The polished steel doors slid open again. This time, it wasn't corporate lackies stepping out. It was a detachment of federal marshals, flanked by Julian Vance Sr. carrying a thick stack of finalized federal indictments.

"Federal marshals, Julian Montgomery Jr.," the lead officer announced, holding up an arrest warrant. "You are being placed under federal arrest for international corporate extortion, wire fraud, and conspiracy to violate federal banking secrecy laws."

Julian Jr. spun around, lunging toward the elevator, but the marshals were already on him, slamming him against the glass partition with practiced efficiency, snapping heavy steel cuffs around his wrists.

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The applause slowly faded as Maya stepped off the graduation stage, the heavy wooden steps creaking beneath her feet. Little Lily stirred against her chest, letting out a soft yawn that sounded entirely too peaceful given the emotional hurricane that had just swept through the auditorium.

The applause slowly faded as Maya stepped off the graduation stage, the...

Pain rippled through my lower back as the front door clicked shut, the heavy wooden frame sealing off the warmth of the house. The rain didn't fall; it drove sideways, sharp and icy, slicing through my thin cardigan and soaking into my maternity clothes.

Pain rippled through my lower back as the front door clicked shut, the h...

The sound of shattering crystal echoed like a gunshot across the sun-drenched gardens of the Lake Geneva estate. High above the courtyard, Eleanor Montgomery’s pristine white-gloved hand hovered in empty space, her fingers trembling violently.

The sound of shattering crystal echoed like a gunshot across the sun-dre...

"Get your hands off me! Do you know who my family is?!" Julian Jr. roared, his voice echoing off the glass walls as they dragged him toward the elevator.

"We know exactly who your family is, junior," I said softly, standing up slowly from my desk and walking around to look down at him as the doors began to close. "And just like them... you should have stayed in Europe."

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