Chapter 5 - The Reckoning Begins
Julian’s smug expression dissolved in an instant. He looked from his sobbing mother to his stone-faced father, and finally to me, holding Lily in my arms.
“Police?” Julian laughed nervously, taking a step back toward the door. “What are you talking about, Grandma? It’s Thanksgiving Eve!”
“It was Thanksgiving Eve,” Grandma corrected him. “Now it is an investigation.”
Richard Vance stepped forward, pulling a formal legal summons and notice of asset freeze from his document folder. “Julian Vance, as of ten minutes ago, the Whitmore Family Trust has filed an emergency injunction freezing all accounts associated with your firm, Vance Capital LLC. Furthermore, a formal criminal complaint of grand theft and wire fraud is currently being transmitted to the Denver District Attorney’s Office.”
“What?!” Julian shouted, dropping the bottle of scotch onto the entryway rug. It thudded softly without breaking. “Mom, what did you do? You told me that money was an early inheritance from Grandma!”
Patricia covered her face and sobbed louder, unable to look her son in the eye.
“She lied to you, Julian,” Uncle Robert said, his voice cracking with deep disappointment. “She stole Sarah’s relief money. And you used it to play high-stakes investor while your cousin sold her own jewelry to buy formula for her baby.”
Julian looked at me, panic finally taking over his features. “Sarah… come on, we’re family! You know I would never intentionally take money meant for you! I didn’t know! Mom told me Grandma authorized a distribution for my startup!”
“You didn’t know?” I asked, stepping closer to him, my voice shaking with built-up rage. “When I asked you for a five-hundred-dollar loan six months ago to fix my car’s brakes so I could drive Lily to her doctor appointments, what did you tell me, Julian?”
Julian swallowed hard, unable to meet my eyes.
“You told me you were broke,” I answered for him. “You told me to 'get a real job' and stop looking for handouts from the family. Meanwhile, you were driving a Mercedes bought with my money!”
“Sarah, please—” Julian started, stepping toward me.
“Stay away from her,” Grandma ordered, stepping directly between Julian and me. “Richard, where are the local authorities?”
“They are five minutes away, Mrs. Whitmore,” Richard replied smoothly. “I spoke directly to the Assistant District Attorney. Given the paper trail and the forged signatures, they are treating this as an active financial crime scene.”
Patricia threw herself at Grandma’s feet, wrapping her hands around her mother’s knees. “Mother, please! Don’t destroy our family! If Julian goes to prison, his life is over! If I go to prison, the scandal will ruin everything! We can sell the SUV! We can liquidate Julian’s investments! We’ll pay Sarah back every penny with interest! Just don’t call the police!”
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Grandma looked down at her daughter with a look of profound heartbreak and disgust.
“You didn’t care about destroying Sarah’s life,” Grandma said quietly. “You didn’t care if she ended up on the street with a infant. You only care now because you got caught.”
