Chapter 5 - The Patriarch's Threat
The two police officers assigned to escort us immediately stepped forward, placing their hands on their sidearms. "Sir, this is a crime scene! Step back!"
Richard Vance didn't even look at the officers. He pulled a folded sheet of paper from his coat pocket and held it out.
"I have an emergency court injunction signed by Judge Miller thirty minutes ago," Richard said coldly. "This house and all its contents are held under Vance Enterprise Corporate Receivership due to unpaid business loans extended to my son. You are trespassing on corporate property, Sarah."
Victoria stepped between Richard and me, her tall frame completely blocking his path.
"Judge Miller is a personal golfing buddy of yours, Richard," Victoria stated, her voice icy. "And this injunction is legally invalid because this property was designated as a marital asset under a criminal protection order twenty-four hours ago."
Richard smiled—a cold, ruthless expression that showed exactly where Mark had learned his sociopathic behavior.
"Victoria," Richard said smoothly. "You are a talented attorney, but you are playing a game you cannot afford to lose. My family built this city. The district attorney owes his campaign funding to my firm. The chief of police sits on my charitable board. If you think you can use my idiot son’s foolish mistakes to dismantle my family's legacy, you are gravely mistaken."
He turned his piercing gaze toward me.
"Sarah," Richard said, stepping past Victoria. "Look at you. You are weak, unemployed, living on hospital charity, raising a premature child who may have permanent developmental damage. Do you really think you can fight my legal team for the next ten years?"
I stood up straight, clutching Mark’s black journal tightly against my chest. The fear that used to paralyze me whenever a Vance spoke to me was completely gone.
"Your son buried me in the dirt, Richard," I said, stepping right up to his face. "He beat my pregnant stomach with a stick while I was trapped in the mud. And do you know what I realized while I was lying there?"
Richard narrowed his eyes.
"I realized that none of you are monsters," I said softly. "You are just pathetic, cowardly men who need mud, locks, and stolen money to make yourselves feel strong."
Richard’s jaw tightened, a red flush creeping up his neck. "You will regret this, Sarah. By the time I am done with you, you won't even have enough money to buy diapers for that half-dead bastard in the incubator."
"Get out," I commanded, pointing to the open door. "Before I have these officers arrest you for obstruction of justice and contempt of a protection order."
Richard stared at me for three long seconds, realizing that his intimidation tactics had completely failed. He turned on his heel and walked out, his dark-suited thugs following close behind.
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"He's going to hit us with everything he has now," Emma whispered nervously.
"Let him," I said, looking down at the black journal in my hands. "Because we have the one thing his money can't buy: the truth."
