Chapter 6 - The Unraveling
Vanessa slammed her hands on the table. "You're bluffing! You wouldn't put your own family in prison! The press would destroy you! 'Tech CEO locks up her own sister!' See how that looks on the news!"
"Try me," I said, looking her dead in the eye. "I spent six years watching you take everything I earned while Mom made excuses for you. You thought I was weak because I kept my head down and worked. But working hard doesn't mean I'm foolish, Vanessa. It means I have resources you can't even comprehend."
Brad suddenly stood up, buttoning his jacket. "I'm out."
"Brad!" Vanessa shrieked, turning to him in disbelief. "You're my manager!"
"Not anymore," Brad said flatly. "I manage lifestyle influencers, not people facing federal fraud indictments. You lied to me about your assets, and you tried to drag me into an extortion scheme against a Fortune 500 company. Don't call my agency again."
He turned and walked straight out of the conference room, leaving the heavy door to slam shut behind him.
Vanessa looked like she had been slapped. Tears of rage filled her eyes as she turned back to me. "You ruined my life! You ruined everything!"
"You ruined your own life the second you let your envy control your actions," I said calmly. "You tore up my offer because you couldn't stand seeing me succeed. Now, you get to live with the consequences of your choices."
Mom sank back into her chair, covering her face with her hands, sobbing loudly. "Claire, please... we're your family! How can you be so heartless?"
"Where was this concern for family when you stole my college fund?" I asked, my voice cutting through her dramatic crying. "Where was this love when you told me to hide my academic awards so Vanessa wouldn't feel bad? You didn't treat me like family, Mom. You treated me like an unpaid cash cow and an emotional punching bag."
Dad finally spoke up, his voice breaking. "Claire... please. Is there no other way?"
I looked at my father. He had never actively hurt me, but his passive silence had enabled Mom and Vanessa to destroy everything in their path for decades.
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"You have twenty-four hours to sign Option One," I said, rising from my desk. "If the signed agreement and video retraction aren't in Sarah’s inbox by 10:00 AM tomorrow, Option Two takes effect automatically."
I didn't wait for their answer. I walked out of the room, leaving them alone in the quiet luxury of the corporate suite they had tried to claim as their own.
