Chapter 12 - The Fall of the Matriarch
""Lies! Fabrications!"" Richard Sterling sputtered, his face turning an alarming shade of purple as the board members scrutinized the financial manifests illuminated across the sixty-foot digital wall. ""These are forged documents! Julian has lost his mind!""
""The manifests bear your personal cryptographic signatures, Richard,"" Julian stated with razor-sharp clarity. ""Along with my mother's authorization codes. The Federal Securities Commission and the Department of Justice received identical digital copies precisely fifteen minutes ago.""
At that exact moment, the private boardroom elevator pinged. Four plainclothes federal agents stepped out, accompanied by the building’s head of security, who pointedly ignored Eleanor’s frantic signaling.
""Eleanor Vance? Richard Sterling?"" the lead agent stated, showing his badge. ""We have warrants for your arrest on charges of grand larceny, securities fraud, and conspiracy.""
Victoria began to sob uncontrollably, retreating into the far corner of the boardroom as the agents approached the table. Eleanor, however, stood upright. Her aristocratic pride refused to bend, even as the steel handcuffs clicked around her manicured wrists.
She locked eyes with Julian, her gaze filled with pure, undiluted malice. ""You think you've won, Julian? You think you can raise a beggar’s child on the Vance throne? You are soft, just like your father was. The moment you show mercy, this world will tear you to pieces.""
""My father wasn't soft, Eleanor,"" Julian replied, his voice devoid of anger, left only with an immense, hollow sorrow. ""He was decent. Something you never understood.""
Eleanor was escorted past Catherine, who held Leo firmly against her shoulder. As Eleanor passed the baby, she paused for a fraction of a second, her cold gaze lingering on the child’s calm, hazel eyes. A flicker of something ancient and bitter crossed her face before the federal agents steered her through the double doors.
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The room fell into an uneasy, stunned quiet. Julian turned back to the remaining board members, whose faces were pale with terror.
""Gentlemen,"" Julian said quietly, adjusting his cuffs. ""I believe we have a company to rebuild.""
