Chapter 3: The Liquidation of Vance
The heavy iron gates of the banquet hall estate suddenly slammed open.
Three black utility transport vehicles marked with the insignias of the Fiscalía General de la República (FGR) and federal financial fraud units swept down the gravel driveway, scattering the decorative floral arrangements. A dozen armed federal agents in tactical vests flooded the lawn, their weapons held at low ready.
"Julian Vance! Victoria Vance!" the lead director shouted through a megaphone. "Stay exactly where you are! You are under federal arrest for corporate espionage, grand larceny, and the attempted murder of Clara Sterling!"
Julian panicked, turning on his mother instantly, his hands shaking as he pointed at her. "It was her! She was the one who managed the Zapopan accounts! She told me we had to get the Sterling shares by any means necessary! I didn't know about the car accident, I swear!"
"You cowardly little bastard!" Victoria roared, turning on her son, her manicured fingers clawing at his silk lapels before an officer slammed her against the white floral archway, clicking heavy steel handcuffs over her wrists.
The elite guests watched in breathless, paralyzed silence as the city’s most arrogant high-society matriarch and her polished, billionaire groom were marched down the muddy aisle in heavy chains, their frantic mutual accusations echoing off the limestone walls.
Clara stood at the center of the wreckage, completely unbothered by the mud staining her skin or the chaos around her. Marco stepped up beside her, draped a warm wool coat over her shoulders, and handed her a glass of water.
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"The assets have been frozen, Miss Sterling," Marco said quietly. "The board has already initiated emergency protocols to hand full executive control of Vance Logistics over to your family's trust by tomorrow morning."
Clara took a slow sip, looking at the empty altar. "Let’s go home, Marco. This wedding is over."
