Chapter 13 - The Raids at Dawn
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While the trial proceeded in court, the final destruction of the Vance financial empire was completed by Marcus and Leo.
At six o'clock that morning, federal agents executed simultaneous search warrants at eleven properties owned by Vance Construction across three states.
At the main corporate tower downtown, heavy yellow federal seizure seals were slapped across the glass doors. Computers, paper ledgers, and hard drives were packed into dozens of evidence boxes and loaded into federal trucks.
Arthur Vance, who had been discharged from the hospital hours earlier, stood on the sidewalk across the street, leaning heavily on a wooden cane.
Beside him stood Wendy, wearing an old trench coat, her diamond rings replaced by cheap plastic bands. They looked like two homeless survivors standing in the ruins of a collapsed kingdom.
Marcus stepped out of the building’s main lobby, holding a tablet.
He walked over to Arthur, stopping a few feet away.
“Arthur,” Marcus said softly. “The bankruptcy court has officially finalized the liquidation order. All remaining physical assets, land titles, and equipment of Vance Construction have been purchased by Sterling Infrastructure.”
Arthur’s mouth trembled, tears spilling down his wrinkled cheeks. “Everything? Fifty years of my life's work... gone in two weeks?”
“You built an empire out of cards, Arthur,” Marcus replied without a shred of pity. “And you allowed your son to treat people like animals. When you build a house on cruelty, don't be surprised when it burns.”
Wendy stepped forward, her voice raspy and broken. “What about our estate? Where are we supposed to sleep tonight?”
Marcus reached into his pocket and pulled out an envelope containing two one-way bus tickets to a small rural town three hundred miles away.
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“My sister was generous enough to leave you a small cottage owned by her charitable trust,” Marcus said, dropping the envelope into Arthur’s trembling hands. “You’ll have a roof over your heads and a basic food allowance. Consider it a mercy you do not deserve.”
Arthur stared at the bus tickets, completely shattered, as Marcus turned and walked back into the tower.
