Chapter 18 - The Cost of Vengeance
Chancellor Gallagher did not even take a recess.
He leaned over his desk, his pen scratching against the parchment order with a sound like tearing silk.
"The motion of Apex Sovereign Capital is dismissed with extreme prejudice," the Chancellor declared, his voice cutting like a broadsword.
"This court finds clear and convincing evidence of fraud upon the court."
"The corporate seal presented in Exhibit C is declared void ab initio."
"Furthermore, I am remanding Julian Vance into the custody of federal marshals pending the unsealing of an indictment by the Southern District of New York."
"And as for you, Mr. Christopher Vance..."
The Chancellor turned his icy gaze toward my uncle.
"You will surrender your passport to the clerk of this court before five o'clock today."
"This hearing is adjourned."
The gavel fell with a final, echoing crash.
Two federal marshals stepped forward and snapped steel handcuffs around Julian's wrists.
Julian looked toward the gallery, tears streaming freely down his cheeks.
"Mom! Dad! Help me!" he cried as they pulled him toward the side door of the courtroom.
"Dad! Do something!"
Arthur stood up, his cane shaking, his mouth opening and closing like a fish on dry land.
He had no money left.
He had no political influence.
He had no favor left to call in.
He was just an old man with empty pockets standing in an empty room.
As Julian was led through the heavy steel door, Christopher Vance stood up and buttoned his jacket.
He walked over to my table, his eyes burning with cold venom.
"You think you're clever, Claire," Christopher hissed under his breath so the court reporter couldn't hear.
"You think you won."
"You just sent your only brother to a federal penitentiary."
"You tore your family apart over twenty-five million dollars that you wouldn't even notice on your balance sheet."
"I didn't tear this family apart, Christopher," I said, rising to my full height and looking down into his bitter eyes.
"You used my brother as a weapon."
"I merely disarmed him."
"And as for the twenty-five million?"
"I'll spend twice that amount making sure you never step foot in an American boardroom for the rest of your life."
Christopher sneered, turned on his heel, and strode out of the courtroom, flanked by his sullen lawyers.
Marcus began packing our briefs into his leather case.
"It's over, Claire," he said softly.
"The holding company is protected."
"The injunction is denied."
"No, Marcus," I said, looking toward the public gallery where my parents were still sitting in stunned silence.
May you like
"The business part is over."
"The family part has to be buried."
