Chapter 7 - The Downfall Begins
That evening, the grand dining room of the Miller estate was as opulent and quiet as ever—until the front door was breached.
Thomas sat at the head of the table, cutting into a rare steak while Beatrice and Chloe complained bitterly about my “unacceptable insolence” earlier that day.
“I’m telling you, Thomas, you need to put that woman in her place once and for all,” Beatrice snapped, dabbing her mouth with a linen napkin. “Lock her credit cards. Cut off her access. Show her who provides for this household.”
Before Thomas could reply, the heavy front doors were slammed open with a resounding crash. Heavy footsteps echoed through the foyer, followed by the authoritative voices of local law enforcement officers accompanied by two armed court bailiffs.
Thomas dropped his fork, standing up in absolute outrage. “What is the meaning of this?! Who authorized you to enter my property?!”
Stepping into the dining room wasn't just the police—it was Marcus Vance, flanked by a team of process servers holding thick stacks of legal documents.
“Thomas Miller? Beatrice Miller? Chloe Miller?” Marcus announced, his voice ringing crisp and clear through the room.
“Who the hell are you?” Thomas demanded, his face turning an angry shade of crimson as he stepped forward. “Get out of my house before I have you all arrested for trespassing!”
“You’re in no position to arrest anyone, counselor,” Marcus replied coldly, stepping right up to Thomas and tossing a massive sheaf of legal papers directly onto his expensive dinner plate.
“You are hereby served with an emergency ex-parte order for sole custody on behalf of Elena Miller,” Marcus recited smoothly. “Furthermore, you are facing criminal summons for aiding and abetting child abuse and assault. And as a bonus...” Marcus dropped a second, thicker file onto the table. “...federal agents have just frozen all personal and corporate assets linked to your offshore embezzlement scheme, Thomas. Your firm has already been notified of your immediate suspension.”
Beatrice gasped, clutching her pearls as if she were about to faint. “Embezzlement?! Custody?! That’s impossible! Our family is untouchable!”
Chloe turned completely pale, her knees buckling as she grabbed the back of a dining chair for support. “Thomas... Thomas, what is this? What did you do?!”
Thomas stared down at the documents, his face draining of all color. His hands shook violently as he flipped open the pages, recognizing the undeniable screenshots of his financial records and the transcript printouts of yesterday's living room conversation.
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“No... no, this can't be,” Thomas stammered, looking frantically around the room as reality came crashing down around him like a house of cards. “Elena... where is Elena?! Where is my daughter?!”
“Your wife and daughter are currently resting safely in a secure, confidential location under the protection of the court,” Marcus said with a chilling smile. “And I promise you, Thomas—you will never, ever lay eyes on them again unless it’s across a courtroom table while a judge strips away everything you own.”
