Chapter 11 - The Husband's Collapse
Julian listened to the crystal-clear audio recording, every word cutting through his foggy mind like a serrated blade.
He looked at the tablet screen displaying the forensic toxicology report and the forged prenuptial addendum bearing his mother's handwriting.
He turned his head slowly to look at Victoria, who was now trembling with frantic, desperate panic.
"Mom... is this true?" Julian whispered, his voice cracking as tears filled his glassy eyes.
"Did you drug me on my wedding night?"
"Julian, darling, listen to me! I did it to protect you!" Victoria pleaded, her voice dropping into a shrill whimper.
"Elena was going to take everything! She was going to ruin your future! I had to save you from her!"
"You didn't save me!" Julian screamed, standing up so fast his chair crashed onto the hardwood floor.
"You destroyed my life! You ruined my marriage! You stole my father's memory!"
Detective Miller pulled Victoria's arms behind her back, snapping heavy steel handcuffs around her wrists with a crisp click.
"Victoria Vance, you have the right to remain silent," Detective Miller read her rights as she thrashed against his grip.
"Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law."
As the deputies dragged the screaming, cursing matriarch out through the front doors, Julian fell to his knees on the kitchen floor.
He buried his face in his hands, weeping uncontrollably as the dark reality of his mother's total betrayal crushed his soul.
Marcus walked over, standing beside his broken nephew, but offering no words of comfort.
"Where is Elena?" Julian sobbed, looking up at his uncle.
May you like
"She's at my office, Julian," Marcus replied coldly.
"And she never wants to see your face again."
