Chapter 6 - THE DOWNFALL
Within one hour of the press conference ending, Chloe Bennett became the most hated woman in the country.
The video of her dumping dirty water on Eleanor Vance—one of the most respected philanthropic figures in the state—went viral globally. It spawned millions of reactions, memes, and news segments. Social media accounts that had previously praised her fashion sense were flooded with hundreds of thousands of angry comments demanding justice for the staff and for Eleanor.
At 5:30 PM, while Chloe was frantically packing her designer bags inside her high-rise apartment, attempting to flee the state before the legal storm hit her, two uniformed police officers arrived at her door.
The local news was waiting outside her building. Cameras captured the exact moment Chloe Bennett was led out of her apartment complex in handcuffs, wearing sweatpants, her face red and blotchy from crying, as reporters shouted questions at her from behind the police barricades.
"Chloe! Do you have anything to say to Eleanor Vance?!"
"Did you really try to steal forty-five thousand dollars?!"
"How does it feel to be caught on tape?!"
Chloe buried her face in her hands, sobbing uncontrollably as she was shoved into the back of a police cruiser.
That night, Julian and I sat in our living room, drinking tea while watching the evening news. For the first time in weeks, the air in our home felt clean, peaceful, and light.
"It's finally over," Julian whispered, staring at the television screen showing Chloe’s mugshot.
"The public part is over, yes," I replied, setting my teacup down. "But now comes the work of healing, Julian. You took a very hard hit to your heart."
Julian looked down at his hands. "I feel embarrassed, Mom. I feel like an idiot. How could I let a woman like that into our lives? How could I be so blind?"
"Because you are a good man who wanted to give someone the benefit of the doubt," I said firmly, reaching over to hold his hand. "Never apologize for having a good heart, Julian. Just promise me you will learn to guard it better in the future."
"I promise," he said, tears shining in his eyes. "I really promise."
Two days later, Victoria Vance walked into my study carrying a thick legal dossier. She sat down across from me with a satisfied expression.
"Chloe's attorney called me this morning," Victoria said, setting the papers on the desk. "They are begging for a plea deal. She’s facing up to three years in prison for the attempted grand larceny and assault charges, not to mention the civil lawsuit which will completely ruin her financially."
"What are they offering?" I asked.
"She is willing to issue a full, televised public apology, surrender all rights to any engagement gifts or money, enter a diversion program, and agree to a lifetime restraining order protecting you, Julian, and all Vance estate staff," Victoria explained. "In exchange, she wants us to drop the civil defamation suit so she doesn't end up bankrupt."
I looked out the window at the garden, where Luis was happily trimming the rose bushes under the warm sun.
"Tell her lawyer she has twenty-four hours to accept those terms," I said calmly. "And add one more condition."
Victoria raised an eyebrow. "What condition?"
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"She must complete two hundred hours of mandatory community service," I said, a faint smile touching my lips. "Specifically, working as a janitorial assistant cleaning public restrooms."
Victoria burst into a loud, delighted laugh. "Oh, Eleanor. That is absolute poetry. I will draft the agreement immediately."
