Chapter 7 - The Arrest and Ruin
The wail of sirens outside the museum was a poetic echo of the baby shower.
Red and blue lights flashed through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows of the grand atrium. The doors burst open, and a dozen uniformed police officers marched in, led by a stern-faced detective.
"Adrian Vale?" the detective called out over the murmuring crowd.
Adrian looked around, panicked like a trapped rat. He reached out to grab Sienna's arm. "Babe, tell them we were together all day. Tell them it's deepfake video!"
Sienna yanked her arm away. She looked at the screens, then at Adrian, and finally at me in my emerald gown. The math clicked in her head. Adrian was broke. The empire was gone.
"Don't touch me," Sienna spat, stepping away from him. "I don't know you. You're a monster."
She turned and practically ran for the side exit, abandoning her "true heir" fantasy the moment the gold ran out.
The officers surrounded Adrian. "Adrian Vale, you are under arrest for assault, battery of a pregnant woman, and extortion. Turn around and put your hands behind your back."
"My father is Victor Vale!" Adrian shouted, resisting the cuffs. "You can't do this!"
"Your father," the detective replied dryly, snapping the steel cuffs shut, "is currently being investigated for massive financial fraud. We'll be visiting him next."
Victor collapsed into a chair, clutching his chest. Celeste fell to her knees next to him, her perfectly styled hair falling in messy strands across her face. She looked up at me, tears streaming down her cheeks, her previous arrogance shattered into dust.
"Mara... please," Celeste sobbed. "We are family. The baby... think of the baby. We can make this right."
I walked over to her. I looked down at the woman who had applauded my pain.
"I am thinking of the baby," I said, my voice as hard as ice. "That is why you will never see her. You wanted a proper wife for your son, Celeste. You got one. Enjoy the visiting hours at the state penitentiary."
I turned my back on them. The crowd parted again, but this time, it wasn't out of shock. It was out of absolute respect.
I walked out of the gala, the flashing police lights illuminating my path. Naomi was waiting by the limousine, holding the door open.
"You know," Naomi smiled, handing me a glass of sparkling water once we were inside. "I think emerald is definitely your color."
May you like
I took a sip, leaning back into the leather seats as the car pulled away from the ruins of the Vale family.
"It's a good start," I agreed.
