Chapter 5 - The Jumbo Screen RevelationWith a sharp click of a remote button I had handed to the technician in the media van, the massive outdoor LED screen behind the stage flickered.
The live feed of Senator Sterling’s press conference vanished instantly.
In its place, high-definition security footage from the Whitmore Hotel ballroom blazed across the screen, easily visible to the thousands of people gathered in the plaza and the millions watching the live broadcast across the country.
The audio began to play through the massive outdoor speakers, crystal clear and deafening.
“Once everyone believes she’s a little thief, Evelyn will be too humiliated to look into the corporate accounts we transferred out of Vance Holdings last week. The SEC audit will pin the missing embezzlement numbers directly on Evelyn’s division...”
David’s voice echoed across downtown Chicago, clear as a bell.
Then came Preston’s whining, anxious response: “Are you sure Evelyn won’t suspect anything? The kid is the perfect distraction...”
The plaza erupted into instant, deafening chaos.
Reporters shouted over one another, cameras swung wildly from the jumbo screen to Preston’s horrified, sweat-drenched face, and members of the audience recoiled in sheer disgust. Senator Sterling physically recoiled, stepping back as if Preston had suddenly transformed into a venomous snake.
My mother let out a high-pitched, strangled gasp and collapsed against my father’s shoulder, though my father was too paralyzed by shock to even catch her. He simply stared blankly at the screen, watching his entire multi-million-dollar dynasty crumble into digital ash in real-time.
On the screen, the video transitioned to the second clip: Preston walking over to Sophie’s denim jacket, while David slipped the phone into her pocket. Then, the most damning footage of all played—Preston ripping the heavy oak menu board from its stand, raising it above his head, and bringing it down with brutal force toward an eight-year-old child.
The crowd collectively gasped, several women in the front row covering their mouths in horror.
"My God," Senator Sterling whispered, glaring at my father with absolute contempt. "You people are monsters."
The federal agents didn't wait another second.
The lead agent stepped forward, grabbed Preston by the shoulder, and spun him around, snapping cold steel handcuffs onto his wrists with a sharp, metallic click.
"Preston Vance, you are under arrest for corporate embezzlement, wire fraud, conspiracy, and aggravated assault of a minor," the agent announced, his voice ringing out across the microphones for the entire world to hear.
Preston thrashed wildly, his expensive suit jacket bunching up around his neck, his face turning an ugly shade of crimson. "Get your hands off me! Do you know who my family is? My father owns half this city! You can't touch me!"
"Your family doesn't own anything anymore, Mr. Vance," the agent replied coldly, shoving him toward the stairs. "Your assets have been frozen by federal order as of four minutes ago."
As Preston was dragged past me, his eyes locked onto mine. There was no smugness left. No arrogance. Just pure, venomous hatred.
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"You ruined everything," he hissed through clenched teeth. "You destroyed our family!"
"I didn't destroy anything, Preston," I replied calmly, adjusting my blazer. "I just stopped cleaning up your mess."
