Chapter 5 - THE FAMILY DINNER
Two days later,
my father called.
"Come to the house,"
he said.
"We need to settle this like adults."
I knew it was a trap.
But a soldier doesn't avoid an ambush.
A soldier prepares for it.
I wore my old dress uniform.
I wanted them to see the woman they were trying to cheat.
I wanted them to see the rank I earned.
The house was quiet when I arrived.
The dinner table was set.
My mother sat at the head.
My father sat opposite her.
And there,
at the side,
were Ethan and Madison.
Madison looked pale.
Ethan looked angry.
"Sit down,
Victoria,"
my father said.
I remained standing.
"I’ll stay on my feet."
"I have a plane to catch."
"Where are you going?"
my mother asked,
her voice trembling.
"To the authorities,"
I said.
"I have evidence of fraud."
The room went cold.
Ethan stood up.
"You’re crazy,"
he spat.
"There is no fraud."
"Really?"
I pulled out the flash drive.
"Then why were you meeting with Mr. Sterling in a parking garage?"
My father’s face went white.
"Who is Mr. Sterling?"
he asked.
I looked him in the eye.
"Your lawyer,
Dad."
"The one who’s been drafting a new will for you."
"The one who’s been helping Ethan siphon money from the trust."
My mother gasped.
"Arthur?"
she looked at my father.
"Is this true?"
My father looked at the table.
He couldn't meet my gaze.
"I thought you were too focused on your career,"
he whispered.
"I thought Madison would be the one to carry on the name."
"So you betrayed your own daughter?"
I asked.
"For a man who isn't even the father of your grandchild?"
Madison started to sob.
"It was for the family,"
she wailed.
"Ethan promised he would take care of us."
"Ethan promised a lot of things,"
I said.
"But Ethan is broke."
"I’ve frozen the accounts."
"And Marcus Thorne has already signed a deposition against you."
Ethan’s eyes widened.
"He wouldn't."
"He did,"
I said.
"In exchange for immunity."
I looked at my family.
They were strangers to me.
A collection of liars and thieves.
"I’m leaving,"
I said.
"And I’m taking everything that belongs to me."
"The house,"
"the firm,"
"and the trust."
"Don't try to follow me."
I walked out.
Behind me,
the house erupted in shouting.
I didn't look back.
The bridge was burned.
May you like
The smoke was behind me.
The path ahead was clear.
