Chapter 3 - Desperate Measures
Inside the Manila envelope lay hundreds of pages of meticulous documentation.
“What is that?” Julian whispered, a bead of cold sweat dripping down his temple.
“This is your undoing,” I said firmly. “This contains complete transaction records of twenty-four shell companies registered in the Cayman Islands under Eleanor’s maiden name. It documents thirty million dollars embezzled from Sterling Enterprises over the last five years. It also contains audio recordings of Eleanor instructing your legal team to fabricate evidence of infidelity against me to strip me of any claim to marital assets.”
Eleanor’s eyes darted frantically around the room. Her arrogant posture was entirely gone, replaced by the desperate frenzy of a cornered animal.
“Julian, don't listen to her!” Eleanor shrieked, grabbing her son’s arm. “She’s lying! She’s trying to ruin us! Call the police! Call security!”
“Call them,” Arthur said coldly, pulling out his cell phone. “In fact, I’ve already called the board of directors of Sterling Enterprises, as well as the federal prosecutors who have been quietly investigating the Sterling accounts for the past three years. They are waiting downstairs in the hospital lobby right now.”
Julian looked at his mother, his eyes wide with horror and realization. “Mother... is this true? Is this man really my father? Did you steal the money?”
“I did it for you!” Eleanor shouted, her mask dropping completely. “I built that empire! I wasn't going to let this... this nobody auditor take everything we built! I made you who you are, Julian!”
“No, Eleanor,” I interjected, my voice quiet but cutting through her hysteria. “You didn't make him. You corrupted him. You made him abandon his pregnant wife. You made him cold, cruel, and foolish. And now, both of you are going to pay for every single thing you did.”
Panicked, Eleanor lunged forward toward the bed, attempting to snatch the envelope from my hands.
May you like
Before she could reach me, Arthur stepped in front of her, firmly grabbing her wrists. Simultaneously, two uniformed hospital security guards, accompanied by four federal agents in dark suits, pushed open the delivery room doors.
“Eleanor Sterling? Julian Sterling?” the lead agent announced, pulling out a badge. “We have a warrant for your arrest on charges of wire fraud, corporate embezzlement, tax evasion, and conspiracy.”
