Chapter 2 - The Unraveling
Richard’s knees buckled slightly against the altar. He stared at me as if I were a literal ghost risen from the frozen underworld. “Abigail... how?” was all he managed to choke out, his chest heaving as he gasped for air against his tightening collar.
“You left me the SUV’s registration, my medical file, and your corporate checkbook sitting right on the front seat when you panicked and drove away,” I said, my voice cutting through the heavy air like a scalpel. “You were so focused on making sure my body was buried under ten feet of mountain snow that you forgot you left the master tablet in the side door pocket. The one containing every single digital signature for the offshore accounts you drained from my father’s company.”
Victoria recoiled as if she had been physically struck. She stepped back, her silk train sweeping across the flower petals scattered on the floor. “What is she talking about, Richard? What company? What money?”
“Victoria, listen to me, she’s insane!” Richard lunged forward, trying to grab her hands, but she yanked them away, her eyes blazing with absolute fury. “She’s experiencing postpartum psychosis! You heard the police report! She wandered off into the storm! This whole thing is a psychotic break engineered by her family to ruin us!”
“Postpartum psychosis doesn’t file multi-million-dollar wire transfers to the Cayman Islands, Richard,” a deep, authoritative voice boomed from the back of the chapel.
District Attorney Vance stepped out from the shadows near the vestry, flanked by two federal agents in dark suits. The heavy brass badges gleamed in the candlelight. A collective wave of panic hit the front rows where Richard’s corporate board members sat. Several men immediately reached for their phones, only to find their screens flashing a black security override screen.
“Federal indictment number 884-B,” DA Vance announced, pulling a thick Manila folder from his jacket as he walked down the aisle. “Conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder in the first degree, corporate fraud, embezzlement, and identity theft. Richard Vance—no relation, thankfully—you are under arrest.”
“You can’t do this!” Richard shrieked, his composure completely dissolving into wild, animalistic panic. He backed up until he hit the large stained-glass window behind the altar. “This is a private event! You need a warrant! Where is my lawyer?”
“Your lawyer is currently being arrested across town for laundering your embezzlement funds,” one of the federal agents stated calmly, pulling out a pair of heavy steel handcuffs.
Victoria didn’t scream. She didn’t cry. She simply walked over to the edge of the altar, picked up the crystal flute of champagne meant for their toast, and hurled it directly at Richard’s feet. It shattered into a thousand glittering shards against the hardwood floor.
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“If you ever speak my name again, Richard,” Victoria hissed, her voice dripping with lethal elegance, “the federal prison sentence will feel like a warm vacation compared to what I will do to whatever is left of your assets.”
Richard opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. He was completely cornered. The empire he had built on lies, theft, and attempted murder was collapsing in real-time, broadcasted to the most powerful people in the city.
