Chapter 15
Three days later, the federal arraignment of Arthur Vella and Richard Sterling dominated national news headlines.
Bail was set at ten million dollars each, a sum Arthur could no longer afford with his frozen assets.
Inside the federal detention center in Brooklyn, Arthur sat behind the plexiglass divider in his orange jumpsuit.
Evelyn sat on the opposite side of the glass, holding the phone receiver to her ear calmly.
"You arranged for Chloe to turn on us, didn't you?" Arthur muttered bitterly through the speaker.
"Chloe chose her own survival, Arthur, just as you always taught Lucas and me to do," Evelyn replied softly.
"I didn't teach you to destroy your own father!" Arthur snapped, slamming his hand against the counter.
"No," Evelyn corrected, her voice chillingly quiet. "You taught me that money and power were the only things that mattered."
"You spent twenty years ignoring me, treating me like a servant while showering Lucas with unearned millions."
"You thought because I was quiet, I was weak."
Arthur stared at his daughter, noticing for the first time the terrifying intelligence and strength burning in her eyes.
"What is going to happen to Lucas?" Arthur asked, his voice breaking with genuine paternal fear.
"Lucas signed a complete renunciation of the family name and inheritance this morning," Evelyn revealed.
May you like
"In exchange, I agreed not to press criminal charges for his role in the Nassau wire transfer."
"He is currently working as a junior clerk at a logistics warehouse in Dallas, living on minimum wage."
