Chapter 3 - The Web Tightens
Over the next five days, I moved out of the Cumberland estate with quiet efficiency.
I didn't take much—only my clothes, my personal documents, and the heirlooms my grandmother had left specifically to me. I moved into a luxury high-rise apartment downtown, which, unbeknownst to my family, was another asset owned under the umbrella of First Star Holdings.
Meanwhile, Brooke and Gavin were living in a fantasy world. Through a private investigator I hired, I received daily updates on their movements. Brooke was posting frantically on social media, curating an image of picture-perfect domestic bliss. Photos of baby Leo in high-end nurseries, captions praising Gavin as "the most devoted partner and father," and subtle, passive-aggressive quotes about "leaving toxic people behind."
My mother and father were fully onboard with the deception. They hosted small dinner parties at the Cumberland house, acting as if Brooke had always been Gavin's wife, while wiping my existence from the family narrative entirely.
On Wednesday evening, my mother called me for the first time since the hospital incident.
"Eleanor," my mother's voice came through the speaker, crisp and entirely lacking in maternal warmth. "I hope you aren't planning on making a spectacle of yourself."
"Hello, Mother," I replied calmly, swirling a glass of wine as I stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows of my new penthouse.
"Brooke is very fragile right now," my mother scolded. "The christening and engagement party is set for next Sunday at the Grand Regency Ballroom. We have invited two hundred guests—all of your father's business associates, the local press, and high-society circles. I am calling to tell you that you are expected not to attend. It would be... uncomfortable for everyone."
"I understand, Mother," I said, keeping my tone perfectly flat. "You want to make sure the family's reputation remains intact."
"Precisely," she said, pleased by my apparent compliance. "You were always the practical daughter, Eleanor. Brooke needs the spotlight. She deserves this happiness. You have your little restaurant. Be content with that."
"I am very content, Mother," I smiled into the phone. "In fact, I've sent a special gift to the Grand Regency Ballroom for the event. Something to honor Grandmother’s memory."
There was a brief pause on the line. "Grandmother? What does she have to do with this?"
"She always said that truth finds a way to shine, no matter how deep you bury it," I said smoothly. "Enjoy the planning, Mother. I'm sure it will be an unforgettable evening."
Before she could question me further, I hung up.
The next morning, I met with Marcus Vance, one of the top white-collar criminal attorneys in the state. I laid out the evidence Victor and I had compiled: the forged quitclaim deed, the embezzlement of corporate funds, the fraud perpetrated against Apex Capital, and the illegal transfer of mortgage payments.
Marcus reviewed the documents with growing astonishment. By the time he reached the final financial statement, he leaned back in his chair and let out a low whistle.
"Mrs. Vance—or rather, Ms. Eleanor," Marcus corrected himself with a sharp smile. "This isn't just a divorce case. This is a massive, multi-count corporate fraud and grand larceny case. Gavin and your sister haven't just betrayed you; they have committed federal offenses that carry double-digit prison sentences."
"I don't just want them in prison, Marcus," I said coldly. "I want them completely ruined before the handcuffs even go on. I want them to feel the exact moment the floor drops beneath their feet."
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Marcus smiled, a predatory gleam in his eyes. "The christening party is in ten days. When do you want to serve the papers?"
"During the main toast," I replied. "When every camera is flashing, when every reporter is watching, and when my parents are standing on stage praising their golden daughter."
