Chapter 8 - Cuffed in Velvet
"Financial fraud?" Vanessa echoed, her shrill voice cracking. "What fraud? Ethan, what did you do?"
Julian didn't look at her; he looked at Ethan with utter contempt. "Ten minutes ago, a formal criminal referral was transmitted to the District Attorney’s Economic Crimes Bureau, accompanied by forensic accounting records showing unauthorized wire transfers from your corporate reserves into an entity known as 'V-C Innovations' in Grand Cayman."
Vanessa gasped, clutching her designer purse to her chest. "That... that was an investment!"
"That was corporate embezzlement," Julian countered smoothly. "And since your name is on the receiving entity, Ms. Cole, you are listed as an unindicted co-conspirator."
The heavy oak front doors swung open. Two uniformed police officers stepped inside, accompanied by a female detective in plainclothes who displayed her gold shield.
"Ethan Mercer? Vanessa Cole?" the detective announced loudly.
The room went dead silent.
Vanessa stumbled back, knocking over a priceless porcelain umbrella stand that shattered across the marble. "No! No, wait! I didn't steal anything! Ethan set up the accounts! He told me it was his money! He told me his wife was a parasite who didn't work and didn't deserve a dime!"
"Vanessa, shut your mouth!" Ethan screamed, lunging toward her, but the two officers intervened instantly, pinning him against the banister.
The click of metal handcuffs echoed like a gunshot through the opulent foyer.
"Ethan Mercer, you are under arrest for grand larceny, wire fraud, and criminal conspiracy," the officer stated, cranking Ethan's arms behind his back.
The second officer turned to Vanessa, who was sobbing uncontrollably as her wrists were cuffed behind her sequined gown. "And you, Ms. Cole, are also being detained in connection with criminal mischief and assault with intent to cause bodily injury, following the violent altercation upstairs."
"Clara!" Ethan choked out, his eyes wild with terror as he was dragged toward the door. "Clara, tell them! Tell them it's a mistake! I'm your husband! Everything I did was for our future! You can't let them take me!"
May you like
I stood at the top of the stairs, looking down at the man I had once thought was my entire world.
"You told me not to make a scene, Ethan," I said calmly. "I'm just following your instructions."
