Chapter 9 - The Arrests
The boardroom erupted into chaos. Board members were shouting, scrambling away from my mother and Julian as if they were infectious.
Julian looked at the federal agents, then looked at the panoramic window. For a second, I thought he might jump. Instead, he bolted for the side door.
He didn't make it two steps. Marcus slammed him into the wall, pinning his arms behind his back.
The lead federal agent stepped forward, pulling out a pair of handcuffs. “Evelyn Cross, Julian Cross, you are under arrest for conspiracy to commit murder, medical fraud, kidnapping, and human trafficking. You have the right to remain silent.”
Veronica, who had been sitting in the corner, began to cry hysterically. “I didn't know about the murder! I just thought we were hiding the kids! Please!”
“Arrest her too,” the agent ordered.
I watched as the steel cuffs were ratcheted onto my mother’s wrists. The aristocratic pride, the untouchable arrogance—it all crumbled. She looked at me, her eyes filled with venom.
“I did it for the family, Sebastian,” she hissed as the agents dragged her toward the door. “She was going to ruin us. She was common trash!”
I walked up to her, stopping inches from her face. “Elena was a queen. And her daughters will inherit everything you ever cared about while you rot in a concrete box. You are dead to me.”
I turned my back on her. As the elevator doors closed on my screaming mother and brother, silence returned to the boardroom. The remaining executives were staring at me in stunned, terrified awe.
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I walked to the head of the table, righted my mother’s overturned chair, and sat down.
“Now,” I said, looking at the board. “Let’s get back to business.”
