Chapter 9 - The Fall of the House of Sterling
Mr. Vance slowly closed his leather folder and stepped away from the conference table, raising his hands in a gesture of absolute surrender.
"Mr. Sterling, Miss Sterling," Vance said, his voice cold and detached. "As of this moment, this firm no longer represents you. I suggest you find criminal defense counsel immediately."
"Vance, you can't do this!" Daniel panicked, grabbing the lawyer’s sleeve. "We have an agreement!"
"Our agreement did not include conspiracy to commit murder and grand larceny," Vance snapped, pulling his arm away and walking out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
Just then, the heavy double doors of the conference room swung open.
Two uniformed police officers stepped inside, followed by a detective in a trench coat. Behind them stood Dr. Aris.
"Daniel Sterling? Rachel Sterling?" the detective asked, pulling out a pair of handcuffs. "You are under arrest for conspiracy to commit murder, chemical assault, identity theft, and grand larceny."
Rachel burst into hysterical tears, throwing her hands over her face. "It was his idea! He forced me to help him! He said we were going to lose our business if we didn't get Sarah’s money!"
"Shut up, Rachel! Don't say a word!" Daniel screamed, but the officers grabbed his arms, pulling them behind his back and clicking the steel cuffs into place.
Daniel struggled, his eyes locked onto mine. The sophisticated, handsome man I had married was completely gone. In his place was a desperate, pathetic thief, wild-eyed and foaming with rage.
"You think you’ve won, Sarah?" he spat, as the officers dragged him toward the door. "You’re nothing without me! You’ll always be alone in that giant, empty house!"
I stood up, ignoring the dull ache in my ankle. I walked over to him, stopping just inches away from his face.
"The house isn't empty, Daniel," I said, my voice quiet, steady, and filled with an iron strength he had never been able to break. "It’s finally clean. Get him out of my sight."
The detective nodded to his officers, and they dragged Daniel and Rachel out of the office. Their shouts and cries faded down the hallway until the elevator doors closed, leaving only the quiet hum of the city below.
Clara walked over and wrapped her arm around my shoulders. "You did it, Sarah. It's finally over."
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I let out a long, shuddering breath. For the first time in months, my head didn't hurt. My mind was sharp, my breathing was deep, and the heavy weight that had been pressing down on my chest was completely gone.
"Let’s go home, Clara," I said, smiling for the first time in what felt like an eternity.
