Chapter 4 - The Plea on the KneesBy three o'clock that afternoon, the rain had begun to fall over the city, slicking the glass windows of the Sovereign Sterling headquarters on Wall Street.
I sat in a private conference room on the top floor, wearing a comfortable cashmere sweater and dark trousers. Across the heavy oak table sat three of the country's top family law attorneys, finalizing the paperwork for my immediate legal separation and divorce from Daniel Vance.
"Given the public nature of the incident, the video evidence, and your husband's clear failure of fiduciary and spousal duty, the prenuptial agreement he attempted to draft three years ago is entirely void," my lead attorney, Mr. Harrison, explained. "Furthermore, we are filing for sole legal and physical custody of your unborn daughter, with zero visitation rights granted to the Vance family without mandatory psychological evaluation and supervised court oversight."
"Thank you, Mr. Harrison," I said softly, signing my name on the final page of the petition. Vivienne Sterling. For three years, I had signed my name as Vivienne Vance. Writing my real name felt like taking my first deep breath of clean air after years under water.
Suddenly, the intercom on the wall buzzed.
"Ms. Sterling," the receptionist’s voice sounded. "Mr. Daniel Vance, Mr. Richard Vance, and Ms. Chloe Vance are downstairs in the main lobby. Security refused them access to the elevator, but... they are refusing to leave. They claim it is a matter of life and death."
I looked at my father, who was standing by the window with his hands behind his back.
"Do you want me to have them escorted off the property by armed security, Vivienne?" Arthur asked without turning around.
I quieted my mind for a moment, listening to the soft heartbeat of my baby kicking against my ribs. "No, Dad. Bring them up. It’s time to close this chapter properly."
Five minutes later, the heavy glass doors of the top-floor conference room opened.
The sight of the Vance family was pitiful.
Daniel looked as though he hadn't slept or showered in days. His eyes were red-rimmed, his suit rumpled and wet from the rain outside. Behind him walked Richard, whose proud posture was completely shattered, his shoulders slouched in defeat. Chloe came last, her eyes swollen from hours of crying, wearing plain clothes without a drop of her usual designer accessories. Eleanor was noticeably absent—still sitting in a city precinct jail cell waiting for her bail hearing, which my father's legal team had successfully delayed until the following morning.
"Vivienne..." Daniel gasped, taking a quick step forward before two giant security guards stepped into his path, blocking him.
"Stay where you are, Daniel," I said calmly from my seat at the head of the table.
Richard immediately pushed past his nephew and dropped directly onto both knees onto the plush carpet.
"Ms. Sterling... Vivienne, please!" Richard pleaded, his voice cracking with desperation. "I am begging you on behalf of the entire Vance family! My sister was cruel, my niece was foolish, and Daniel was a coward! But please... do not destroy our company! Three hundred innocent employees work for Vance Holdings! They will lose their jobs, their livelihoods, their mortgages!"
"You didn't care about innocent people when your family was destroying my dignity, Richard," I replied coldly. "You sat at that front table last night. You laughed when Eleanor mocked my clothes. You watched Chloe dump my personal medical supplies onto the floor. You said nothing."
"I was wrong! I was blind!" Richard sobbed, bowing his head until his forehead almost touched the floor. "We will issue a public apology! A full, televised press conference! Chloe will plead guilty to all charges! Eleanor will publicly resign from every social board she sits on! Just please... extend the loan maturity date! Don't liquidate our company!"
Chloe stepped forward, her body shaking. "Vivienne... I'm sorry," she choked out, tears spilling down her cheeks. "I was jealous of you! I was jealous because Daniel loved you more than he ever cared about my friends, and because you were always so graceful even when we were horrible to you! I wanted to break you! I see now how evil I was... please, don't let me go to prison!"
I looked at Chloe. For three years, she had been the primary orchestrator of my daily humiliations—sending me rude text messages, leaving me out of family events, making fun of my background. Seeing her now, stripped of her arrogance, she didn't look like a high-society princess anymore. She just looked small, petty, and deeply pathetic.
"You broke yourself, Chloe," I said quietly. "Your own actions put you in this position. You will face the court system, and you will accept whatever punishment the judge deems fit."
Finally, I turned my gaze to Daniel.
He was standing behind his uncle, staring at me with a look of profound, agonizing regret.
"Viv," Daniel whispered, his voice trembling. "Please... talk to me. Just two minutes alone. Please."
May you like
I looked at my father and the lawyers. Arthur gave me a gentle nod, signaling the security team to step back. "We'll give you two minutes, Vivienne."
The lawyers and my father stepped out into the adjacent office, leaving Daniel and me alone in the vast, silent conference room.
