Chapter 4: The Takedown
Chaos erupted. The board members—the titans of industry who valued reputation above all—descended on Julian. They weren't there to protect him; they were there to dissociate.
"Julian, is this true?" the CEO of the firm shouted, stepping over the ruined flowers.
"It’s a frame job!" Julian screamed, backing away, his eyes wild. He tried to shove through the crowd, but the security team blocked his path. There was no escape. The doors were closed.
Clara stood up. It was a struggle, but she braced herself against the wheelchair and rose, her legs trembling but holding. The room went silent. She looked like a queen reclaiming her throne. She walked toward Julian, who was now backed into a pillar by the guests he had spent years trying to impress.
"You wanted my shares," Clara said, standing inches from him. "You wanted my company. But you forgot that this company was built on integrity, something you never understood."
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She signaled to the head of security. "Escort him out. And make sure the FBI is waiting at the service entrance. They’ve been waiting for this exact moment."
As Julian was dragged away, cursing and grasping at the air, the "luxury" of the wedding vanished. It was now a crime scene, and for the first time in her life, Clara felt the clean, crisp air of the truth.
