Chapter 6 - On His Knees
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Declan looked at the caller ID, expecting a routine call from his office. But as his eyes scanned the screen, his face drained of color. The arrogance vanished from his posture in a fraction of a second.
"H-Hello?" Declan stammered, his voice suddenly trembling.
A harsh, booming voice echoed from the phone speaker so loudly that even I could hear it standing several feet away.
"Declan Vance," the voice growled coldly. "This is Master Inspector Miller from the Federal Asset Seizure Bureau. As of thirty seconds ago, all domestic and offshore accounts associated with Vance Logistics have been frozen under Executive Order 409."
Declan’s phone almost slipped from his fingers. "What? No! There must be a mistake! I—"
"Furthermore," the official interrupted ruthlessly, "the Department of Justice has just issued an arrest warrant for tax fraud, racketeering, and corporate espionage. State troopers are currently raiding your mansion and your primary office."
"Wait! Please!" Declan screamed, his breath catching in his throat. "Who authorized this?! I have high-level connections!"
"Your connections just signed off on your arrest, Vance," the voice replied darkly. "You crossed the wrong family. Have a good life in federal prison."
The line went dead.
A second later, a loud chime echoed from Declan’s phone. A push notification popped up on the screen: Vance Logistics Stock Plummets 98% in Flash Crash.
Chloe gasped, staring at Declan's phone in sheer horror. "Declan? What is happening?! My corporate credit card just got declined!"
Declan didn't answer her. He stared at my mother as if she had suddenly transformed into a creature from a nightmare. His knees buckled under the weight of total, instantaneous ruin.
Thud.
The powerful, arrogant CEO fell hard onto his knees right on my mother's dusty porch.
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The man who had stood over me with a golf club less than twenty-four hours ago was now shivering uncontrollably, looking up at two women he had thought were powerless.
"Save me..." Declan whimpered, reaching out a trembling hand toward my mother's apron. "Please... Miss Evelyn... save me!"
