Chapter 6 - The Ghost of the Past
The audio clip played through the ballroom's silent expanse, capturing a younger Victoria Sterling’s cold, triumphant laughter. “Make sure the Davis manufacturing plant goes under by Friday,” her recorded voice commanded with chilling ease. “Leave them with nothing so they crawl out of Manhattan forever.”
Julian stood paralyzed, the dark blue velvet of his tuxedo feeling like lead. He looked from the investigator to Chloe, whose face had gone completely pale. The calm composure she had maintained all evening fractured slightly, revealing the deep, old scar of a childhood abruptly stolen away.
"You knew," Julian whispered, his voice trembling as he looked at Chloe. "That’s why you got close to me. That’s why you entered this house."
Chloe slowly lifted her gaze, her blue eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "I didn't know the full extent until last month, Julian. When I found out your family owned the holding company that liquidated my father's business, I thought about walking away. But I needed proof. This was never about the $200 grocery challenge. It was about justice."
Victoria, standing flanked by federal agents, let out a harsh, rasping laugh. "And you think exposing me brings your father back, little girl? His company failed because he was a weak fool who couldn't read a balance sheet!"
"Shut up!" Julian roared, turning on his mother with a fury that stunned everyone in the room. He stepped right up to the handcuffs, his chest heaving. "You destroyed a family just to buy another vacation home in the Hamptons? How many lives did you ruin to build this fake empire?"
"Watch your tone, Julian," Victoria warned, her voice dropping into an icy hiss. "You bear my name. Everything you own, everything you wear, is paid for by the very empire you are currently tearing down."
"Then I renounce every cent of it," Julian said without hesitation, ripping the black bow tie from his collar and tossing it onto the mountain of instant ramen cups.
Arthur Vance watched the family implode from his chair, shaking his head slowly. He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out an old, yellowed envelope, sliding it across the table toward Chloe.
"If you're looking for the original corporate audit from your father's company," Arthur said quietly, "you won't find it in Victoria’s vault."
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Chloe looked down at the envelope, her breath catching in her throat as she recognized her late father’s handwriting scrawled across the back.
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