Chapter 3 - The Accountant's Ledger
Three hours before Victoria entered the room with the pillow, Emily had already set the trap in motion. While the Montgomery family believed she was a helpless casualty trapped in a full-body cast, Emily had used Nurse Sarah—who was actually an undercover operative assigned to the federal financial crimes task force—to access her secure files.
Years before marrying Ethan, Emily had been investigating a massive, multi-million-dollar money laundering scheme involving real estate developments in Manhattan. She had met Ethan during that time, believing his pursuit of her was genuine romance. It was only after the wedding that she realized the horrifying truth: Ethan hadn't fallen in love with her; he had married her to keep his enemies close.
Inside the hospital room, as two federal agents stepped through the door to place Victoria under administrative arrest for attempted murder, Emily looked at her terrified husband.
"The life insurance policy, Ethan," Emily said, her voice echoing in the tense room. "You were so desperate for me to sign it. Why? Because the Montgomery Development Group is bankrupt. You and your mother used the charity foundation to hide seventy million dollars in bad debts, and the offshore accounts in the Caymans are completely frozen."
Victoria hissed like a trapped animal as the agents clicked steel handcuffs around her wrists. "You know nothing, you gutter trash! Our lawyers will have this thrown out before breakfast!"
"Your lawyers are currently being detained for questioning," one of the federal agents replied calmly, forcing Victoria toward the door. "Mrs. Montgomery, you have the right to remain silent."
As Victoria was dragged down the hallway, her screams of outrage fading into the distance, Ethan dropped to his knees by Emily’s bedside. He tried to grab her hand, but Sarah blocked him.
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"Emily, I was forced into it! My mother... she controlled everything!" Ethan cried, tears streaming down his face. "When she loosened the balcony railing, I didn't know! I swear I didn't know she would actually push you!"
"But you didn't try to stop her afterward," Emily said, looking down at him with nothing but disgust. "You whispered to her that you wouldn't fail next time. I heard you, Ethan. The microphone inside my neck brace recorded every single word."
