Chapter 3 - THE RETALIATION
The public fallout was immediate and ruthless.
By the next morning, news of the ruined Plaza wedding dominated the front pages of every financial tabloid in North America.
Billionaire Thomas Vance Exposes Fraudulent Bride at the Altar.
While the press gorged on the scandal, I sat in the executive conference room on the fortieth floor of Vance Enterprises Tower, surrounded by my legal team and senior board members.
"Thomas," Julian said, placing a thick dossier on the table. "The police have froze Evelyn and Richard’s primary accounts, but we've got a massive problem."
I looked up from my coffee. "What problem?"
"Evelyn didn't work alone," Julian revealed, leaning over the table. "Six months ago, she secured a proxy voting agreement signed by three members of your own executive board. They used the offshore transfers to acquire a hidden twelve percent stake in Vance Logistics. They're trying to force an emergency takeover meeting tomorrow morning to strip you of your CEO position before the trial begins."
I squeezed my coffee mug. "Who on the board?"
Julian tapped the dossier. "Arthur Pendelton and the Sterling brothers."
Arthur Pendelton had been my business partner for fifteen years. We had built the company’s shipping terminals together.
"Arthur," I murmured, a bitter taste filling my mouth. "He knew about her?"
"He didn't just know," Julian explained grimly. " Pendelton was the one who introduced Evelyn to your office as an executive assistant two years ago. He set the whole trap, hoping her marriage to you would give them total control of your family trust."
Suddenly, the door to the conference room opened.
Genevieve walked in, wearing a sharp grey business suit. She looked stronger than she had in years. The fear that had kept her quiet was gone, replaced by a fierce determination to protect our family.
"Dad," Genevieve said, stepping up to the table. "I have something you need."
"Genevieve, you should be resting at home with Toby," I said softly.
"Toby is fine with Aunt Sarah," she replied, pulling a tablet from her bag. "Before Evelyn slapped me on Friday, she dropped her handbag. I managed to clone the local storage drive on her phone using the security app we installed last year."
Julian gasped. "What's on it?"
"Every email exchange between Evelyn, Richard, and Arthur Pendelton," Genevieve said, sliding the tablet across to me. "Including the exact financial breakdown of how they planned to split Vance Enterprises after Dad’s 'accidental' health failure next year."
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My eyes widened. "Health failure?"
"They were poisoning your daily coffee blend with low-dosage cardiac toxins, Dad," Genevieve whispered, her voice cracking with emotion. "They didn't just want your money. They were going to kill you."
