Chapter 6 - Fall of the Deceivers
The room grew quiet as my father stepped up to the microphone on stage. The massive, thirty-foot high-definition LED screen behind him glowed with the golden logo of Vance Enterprises.
Nathaniel stood right at the front of the stage, smoothing his jacket, puffing out his chest, preparing to step up when his name was called. In the balcony above, Selena leaned over the railing, a smirk playing on her red lips.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen," Arthur’s powerful voice boomed through the high-end sound system. "For forty years, Vance Enterprises has built its reputation on trust, integrity, and family. Tonight, we were supposed to celebrate our annual charitable contributions."
Arthur paused, taking off his glasses and looking directly at Nathaniel.
"However, leadership requires transparency. And tonight, my daughter Amelia and I have decided to share a very special update regarding the future management of this company."
Nathaniel beamed, taking a half-step toward the stairs.
"Two weeks ago," Arthur continued, "an event occurred at St. Jude’s Hospital. An event that was publicly described as an unfortunate accident."
Nathaniel’s smile froze instantly. A cold sweat broke out across his forehead.
"Please direct your attention to the main screen," Arthur said calmly.
The golden logo vanished from the thirty-foot screen.
In its place, high-definition security camera footage from St. Jude’s Hospital began to play. The entire ballroom watched in stunned, breathless silence as the video showed Selena Drake standing in front of me, glancing directly at the security camera, and then violently shoving my pregnant stomach before stepping back and raising her hands.
Screams and gasps erupted across the ballroom!
"What is the meaning of this?!" a board member yelled out.
Selena backed away from the balcony railing, her face turning ghost white as socialites around her began staring at her in horror.
"Wait!" Nathaniel shrieked, running toward the stage stairs. "Arthur, stop this! The screen has been hacked! Shut it down!"
"Silence!" my father roared into the microphone.
The video on the screen paused on Selena’s dropped, cracked phone. Then, audio began to play—booming through the ballroom’s surround-sound speakers with terrifying clarity.
"Make sure she falls near the central security cameras so it looks like she lost her balance... Just push her, Selena. Make it look like a tragic accident."
The room exploded into absolute chaos!
"My God!"
"He tried to kill his wife!"
"Call the police!"
Photographers rushed forward, their flashbulbs exploding like fireworks, capturing Nathaniel’s terror-stricken face from every angle.
Nathaniel turned around, scrambling toward the main exit doors, but four heavy oak doors slammed shut simultaneously. Standing in front of every exit were uniform officers from the NYPD and federal agents from the FBI.
"Nathaniel Vance!" Federal Agent Miller yelled out, pulling out a badge and a thick warrant. "You are under arrest for conspiracy to commit murder, wire fraud, and grand larceny!"
Panic-stricken, Nathaniel turned toward the balcony and pointed a trembling finger at Selena. "It was her! She did it! She forced me! She stole the money from the foundation!"
Selena screamed from the balcony as two female FBI agents slapped handcuffs onto her wrists. "You lying bastard!" she shrieked, her voice echoing over the crowd as she was dragged down the stairs. "You promised me three million dollars! You told me you wanted her dead!"
Nathaniel collapsed onto the polished hardwood floor right in front of the stage, weeping hysterically, kicking his legs as officers forced his arms behind his back and clicked heavy steel handcuffs around his wrists.
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I stepped up to the edge of the stage, holding my belly, looking down at my crying, broken husband.
"You thought my baby made me weak, Nathaniel," I said into the microphone, my voice echoing clearly over his sobs. "She made me invincible."
