Chapter 4 - The Collapse of the Vale Dynasty
Vanessa realized with terrifying certainty that her social armor had completely disintegrated.
Without the illusion of charity,
without the protection of my absence,
and without the ignorance of the underworld boss she had foolishly tried to manipulate,
she was nothing.
“You can't do this to me,
Evan!
” she shrieked,
scrambling forward across the broken glass and grabbing the hem of my denim shirt with bloody fingernails.
“My father is Senator Arthur Vale!
My family controls half the judicial committee in this state!
If you ruin me,
my father will hunt you down to the ends of the earth!
” I looked down at her with cold,
clinical detachment,
feeling only profound disgust.
“Senator Arthur Vale,
” I said,
pronouncing his name as if reading a death warrant from a tribunal.
“The same man who takes kickbacks from my shipping ports in Bridgeport.
The same man who begged me for three million dollars to cover his failing campaign debts last autumn.
” I pulled my shirt free from her desperate grasp,
stepping away to avoid staining myself with her pathetic clinging.
“Marcus,
pull up the financial wire records on Senator Vale on the main screen.
” Marcus instantly tapped a few keys on his tactical tablet.
Within seconds,
a secondary screen on the terrace descended,
displaying bank transfers,
offshore tax havens,
and signed promissory notes linking Senator Vale to illegal syndicate laundering.
“The senator’s political career ended ten minutes ago,
Vanessa,
” I stated plainly,
my voice carrying across the silent courtyard.
“Federal indictments are being served at his luxury estate in Hartford right now as we speak.
Your family name isn't a shield anymore.
It’s a target.
” The charity donors and local officials who had spent years kissing Vanessa’s feet now scrambled backward,
terrified that simply breathing the same air as a disgraced,
ruined family would taint their own reputations.
“Get her off my property immediately,
” I commanded,
my voice echoing like thunder across the marble courtyard.
Four of my security operatives stepped forward,
their massive frames towering over Vanessa as they hoisted her up firmly by her arms.
She screamed,
kicking and thrashing in their grip,
hurling curses and empty threats that dissolved into pathetic sobbing as they dragged her away from the terrace and toward the outer gates.
May you like
The pristine future stepmother of the Whitaker estate was being thrown out like garbage,
exactly where she belonged.
