Chapter 31 - The Final Offer
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Three days later, I received an unexpected request from the federal prison in upstate New York.
Arthur Vance—formerly the untouchable elite attorney, now inmate #48291—wanted an emergency meeting with me before his formal sentencing hearing.
I walked into the prison visiting room accompanied by two armed guards.
Arthur Vance sat across the metal table. He looked old, frail, his once-pristine hair completely grey, wearing an ill-fitting prison uniform.
"Elena," Arthur rasped, his voice weak and raspy.
"You have five minutes, Arthur," I said, remaining standing with my hands folded in front of me. "Make it count."
"I know about the Vanguard Apex master key," Arthur confessed, his voice shaking. "I know your mother left you the signet ring. My mother... Eleanor... she tried to steal it twenty years ago, but Victoria hid it too well."
"I know," I replied coldly.
"I can give you the remaining private passcodes to Eleanor's offshore accounts," Arthur offered desperately, tears forming in his bloodshot eyes. "Ten million dollars in gold bullion stored in Zurich. Just... just ask the judge to reduce my sentence from three years to home confinement! Please! I won't survive prison!"
I looked down at the man who had helped Adrian lock me out of my home, forged my signature, and mocked my pregnancy.
"Keep your gold, Arthur," I whispered, leaning close to the glass partition. "I don't need your money. Seeing you in that orange jumpsuit is worth more than all the gold in Zurich."
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Arthur fell back into his chair, weeping silently as the guards stepped forward to lead him away.
I turned my back on him and walked out into the sunlight, closing the chapter on the Vance family forever.
