Chapter 5 - The Trap Springs Shut
Vanessa staggered backward, her mind spinning as she tried to comprehend the nightmare unfolding before her eyes.
"You... you investigated us?" Vanessa stammered, looking back and forth between her father and Clara. "Dad, you promised me we were untouchable! You signed off on all the foundation accounts yourself!"
"I signed off on them under duress while gathering evidence for the federal prosecutor, Vanessa," Director Vale revealed, pulling out an official arrest warrant stamped by the federal district court. "Three years ago, when I realized you and your mother were using our family name to extort helpless citizens like Mrs. Gable, I made a choice between my oath to the law and your corruption."
A sharp metallic clatter rang out across the room. The heavy bronze candlestick slipped from Vanessa's numb fingers, crashing hard onto the white marble floor and rolling to a stop right at Clara's feet.
"Dad... please!" Vanessa sobbed, dropping her arrogant persona completely as tear tracks ruined her polished makeup. "I'm your daughter! You can't let them take me!"
"You chose this path the moment you raised a weapon against an innocent woman," Clara said coldly, stepping forward over the fallen candlestick.
May you like
Clara pulled up a high-definition audio clip on her wrist device, hitting the playback button for the entire ballroom to hear.
👉 Read Part 6 to hear the secret recording played in front of the gala guests.
