CHAPTER 6
Mara cowered in the corner of the living room, clutching her arms around her chest as federal agents slapped steel handcuffs onto Victor and Celeste.
"Dad! Tell them!" Mara wept hysterically, watching as her father was forcefully hauled to his feet by two tactical officers. "Tell them I didn't know anything about the fire! Tell them I was just doing what you said!"
Victor turned his head, glaring at Mara with eyes full of pure, toxic hatred that completely stripped away any remaining fatherly illusion.
"Shut your mouth, you stupid, useless brat!" Victor spat, his voice dripping with vicious venom. "If you hadn't brought that remote control into this room, none of this would be happening! You ruined everything!"
Mara flinched as if she had been physically struck, dropping to her knees on the floor, her chest heaving with deep, racking sobs of total despair.
Celeste was escorted out right behind him, kicking and screaming in her silk robe as news helicopters began buzzing over our estate, their spotlights illuminating the front driveway.
Agent Lin signaled for two waiting paramedics, who carefully lifted me onto a soft transport chair, wrapping a warm, clean blanket around my shoulders.
"Mrs. Hale, the district attorney is waiting for you at the federal courthouse," Agent Lin informed me smoothly. "Your legal team has already filed emergency injunctions to restore your full authority over Hale Global Shipping."
I looked over at Mara, who was sitting broken on the floor, surrounded by federal agents cataloging evidence in the very home she had tried to steal from me.
"Mom... please," Mara whimpered, looking up at me through swollen, tear-filled eyes. "Please don't let them take me..."
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I looked into her eyes for three long seconds, feeling the deep ache of a mother's broken heart, before offering my final, quiet response.
"Actions have consequences, Mara," I whispered raspy. "You chose Victor's lies over your mother's truth; now you have to live with the fallout."
