Part 6
The next morning,
the smear campaign against the foundation began to intensify rapidly.
Major news networks were calling Ethan's phone constantly,
demanding official statements.
Reporters even began appearing at the edge of their private driveway,
holding cameras.
Lena stayed inside,
keeping the curtains drawn to protect their privacy from the press.
Ava sat on the couch,
practicing her leg exercises with stubborn determination.
She refused to let the stress slow down her physical recovery.
"We need Richard Cole,"
Ava said,
looking up at Ethan as he paced.
"He handles the estate laws,
and he knows the loopholes Margaret used."
Ethan paused,
realizing his wife was entirely correct about their lawyer.
"You are right,"
Ethan agreed,
quickly dialing Richard's office number.
The line connected,
and Richard answered on the very first ring,
sounding breathless.
"Ethan,
I am looking at the news reports right now,"
Richard said immediately.
"This is a coordinated legal assault,
someone is filing multiple injunctions against us."
"It is Julian Vance,"
Ethan explained quickly,
skipping the pleasantries.
"He is using an offshore trust funded by my mother to attack us."
"We have the bank documents detailing the entire transfer,
Richard."
Richard gasped,
the sound of shuffling papers audible over the phone.
"An offshore trust that was not disclosed during the asset discovery?"
he asked.
"That is a major federal crime,
Ethan,
it constitutes explicit bankruptcy fraud."
"If we can present those papers to a federal judge,
we can get an emergency freeze."
"But I need the original documents with the certified foreign bank stamps,"
Richard added.
"I have them right here at the lake house,"
Ethan confirmed.
"Then I am driving down to you immediately,"
Richard said firmly.
"Do not let anyone inside,
and do not give those papers to anyone."
Ethan hung up,
feeling a small glimmer of hope in this dark situation.
He walked over to the safe in the corner of the room,
placing the papers inside.
Suddenly,
the front doorbell rang,
echoing loudly through the tense house.
Ethan froze,
knowing Richard could not have arrived that quickly.
He moved cautiously to the window,
peeking through the blinds.
A sleek black sedan was parked right behind the reporters' vehicles.
A man in a perfectly tailored gray suit stepped out of the car,
smiling calmly.
He carried a leather briefcase,
and his posture exudes supreme authority.
It was Julian Vance,
showing up on their doorstep in broad daylight.
The reporters rushed toward him,
but he ignored them completely,
walking toward the door.
Ethan felt his heart hammer against his ribs as the man approached.
"He is here,"
Ethan whispered to Ava,
his voice dropping to a dangerous low.
Ava stood up,
leaning heavily on her cane but refusing to look weak.
"Let him in,
Ethan,"
she said,
May you like
her eyes burning with unyielding courage.
"Let us look our enemy in the eye."
