Chapter 6 - THE HOUSE OF CARDS FALLS
Arthur Vance checked his platinum pocket watch. "It’s 11:45 PM. The sun won't rise for another six hours, but for you, Julian Cross, the dark has already set."
Arthur motioned to the federal auditors who had been standing silently near the door.
The lead auditor, holding a badge and a federal warrant, stepped forward. "Julian Cross? You are under arrest for tax evasion, bank fraud, and illegal diversion of corporate funds into offshore accounts."
Julian froze. "What?! Fraud?! I didn't commit fraud!"
"You transferred $4 million from Apex Group’s emergency reserve into a private account in the Cayman Islands last Tuesday," I said, looking at him with pity. "Did you really think I didn't notice? I designed the financial tracking software your bank uses, Julian. I watched you transfer that money to buy Chloe that diamond necklace."
Chloe screamed, turning on Julian like a feral animal. "You used stolen money to buy me this?! You told me you were a billionaire!"
"Shut up! Shut up, you leech!" Julian screamed back, wrestling against the state troopers as heavy steel handcuffs were slapped onto his wrists. "Clarissa! Save me! You’re my wife!"
"Not anymore," I said, taking a silver fountain pen from my pocket. Richard Sterling held out a document. I signed my name at the bottom with a firm, steady stroke. "These are divorce papers. I’ve requested a zero-asset division based on your breach of contract and marital infidelity. You leave this marriage with exactly what you brought into it: nothing."
As the police dragged Julian Cross through the grand ballroom, past hundreds of wealthy onlookers who were filming his screaming breakdown on their phones, the entire room erupted into whispers and camera flashes.
The story was already breaking online.
“CEO OF APEX GROUP ARRESTED AT GALA AFTER MOCKING SECRET BILLIONAIRE WIFE.” “VANCE EMPIRE CRUSHES APEX GROUP IN OVERNIGHT TAKEOVER.”
Chloe Miller stood alone in the center of the room, her hair disheveled, her dress stained with spilled champagne, staring at the crowd that was now pointing and laughing at her. She tried to walk out, but hotel security intercepted her.
May you like
"Miss Miller," the Manager said coldly. "The diamond choker you are wearing belongs to the Vance Collection and was acquired via fraudulent credit. Remove it immediately, or you will be arrested for possession of stolen property."
With shaking, humiliated hands, crying hysterical tears, Chloe unclasped the necklace and handed it over, her pride utterly obliterated in front of the entire city's elite.
