Chapter 16 - THE CONFESSION TAPE
Back at the mansion,
Arthur and Chloe were reviewing digital files recovered from Victoria’s seized laptop.
One file in particular caught Chloe’s attention—a hidden video recording saved in an encrypted folder labeled Project Sterling.
Chloe clicked play.
Victoria’s face appeared on the high-definition monitor,
sitting at our very own dining table,
laughing maliciously into the camera.
“He is so pathetically easy to manipulate,
” Victoria’s voice echoed clearly through the surround sound speakers.
“Daniel thinks we’re running away to Europe together once we clean out her accounts.
”
“The absolute fool doesn't realize I’m dumping him the second the Miami condo is registered in my sole name.
”
“And Arthur? The old man thinks I actually care about his failing heart.
”
“As soon as his cognitive evaluation papers are signed by Dr.
Harrison,
the entire estate is ours.
”
Arthur stared at the screen,
his face turning pale with absolute shock.
“She recorded herself outlining the entire conspiracy,
” Arthur whispered,
his hands trembling.
“She intended to use it to blackmail both of us if anything went sideways.
”
I walked into the living room just as the video looped back to the beginning.
I watched Victoria’s arrogant smile on the screen without feeling a shred of anger.
“Send that file directly to the federal prosecutor,
” I instructed Richard calmly.
“It’s the final nail in her legal coffin.
”
“Already sent,
” Richard replied,
tapping his phone screen.
“Her defense attorney just dropped her case five minutes ago after seeing this video.
”
“Without legal counsel,
she has zero defense against the wire fraud and extortion charges.
”
“Good,
” Arthur murmured,
leaning back into his armchair with a heavy sigh of relief.
“Let justice run its absolute course.
”
The six-foot photograph of Victoria and Daniel still hung above the fireplace,
illuminated by the afternoon sun.
May you like
It no longer looked like a weapon of humiliation.
It looked like a permanent mugshot of two fools who tried to burn down the wrong house.
