Chapter 4 - The Audit of Betrayal
“You’re too late, Ethan,” Marcus smirked, spitting out the words as I held him against the window. “The signature was digital. Amanda just needed to push the final confirmation button at the altar after the vows. The moment you stopped the ceremony, the automated script stalled, but our legal team has twenty-four hours to execute the fallback clause.”
I shoved him away with disgust, sending him stumbling back against the sofa. I didn't waste another second punching him; I had a war to win. I dialed my chief corporate legal counsel, Arthur Vance, my uncle and the sharpest shark in the financial district.
“Arthur,” I said the second the call connected, my voice razor-sharp. “Freeze all primary escrow accounts immediately. We have a hostile takeover attempt in progress via fraudulent marital asset restructuring.”
On the other end of the line, Arthur’s breath hitched. “Good lord, Ethan. Are you alright? What’s happening?”
“I’ll explain later. Cancel every pending transfer, invalidate the preliminary power of attorney documents filed with the county clerk, and dispatch our forensic audit team to the estate right now. Marcus Sterling is involved.”
Marcus’s smug expression finally flickered, replaced by a flash of genuine panic. He grabbed his briefcase from the coffee table. “You can’t freeze those funds legally without a court order, Ethan! The paperwork was notarized!”
“Notarized by a corrupt clerk in another county whom my investigators have been watching for weeks,” a calm, deep voice echoed from the doorway.
We both turned. Standing in the doorway was Detective Miller of the State Financial Crimes Unit, flanked by two uniformed officers.
“Marcus Sterling,” Detective Miller said, pulling out a pair of gleaming steel handcuffs. “You’re under arrest for wire fraud, identity theft, and conspiracy to commit grand larceny.”
Marcus lunged for the door, but the officers were faster. Within seconds, he was pinned to the floor, the metallic click of handcuffs echoing through the luxurious suite.
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As they hauled him to his feet, Marcus glared at me with pure venom. “Amanda will never turn on me, Ethan! She loves me! You were just her paycheck!”
“Let’s find out,” I replied coldly, walking past them and heading back downstairs to where Amanda was waiting.
