Chapter 19 - Julian's Final Stand
|
Before my father or Eleanor could respond, the heavy oak door of the study was kicked wide open, slamming loudly against the bookshelf.
Julian stood in the doorway.
His hair was disheveled, his suit jacket was gone, and his tie hung loosely around his unbuttoned collar. His eyes were bloodshot, wild, and frantic, holding an iPad in one hand and a heavy iron tire iron in the other.
“I knew you’d come here!” Julian shouted, his voice echoing off the high ceilings. “I tracked your phone location, Audrey!”
Eleanor screamed, stepping back against the desk. “Julian! Put that down!”
“Shut up, Mom!” Julian sneered, pointing the tire iron at her. “You betrayed me! You gave them access to Dad’s private room!”
Dad immediately stepped in front of me, shielding my body with his own. “Drop the iron, Julian. It’s over.”
“It’s not over!” Julian yelled, stepping into the room, his chest heaving. “That money in the Delaware account belongs to the Sterling estate! My father built that capital! Audrey has no right to touch a single penny of it!”
“That money was stolen from my mother thirty years ago, Julian,” I said firmly from behind my father. “It was legally designated as my inheritance to replace what your father took!”
“I don't care about thirty years ago!” Julian screamed, raising the iron higher. “I owe two hundred thousand dollars to real estate lenders! If I don't transfer those funds today, I’m going to prison! Give me the master password to the cloud account, Audrey, or I swear to God I’ll end this right now!”
He took an aggressive step toward my father.
Dad didn't flinch. He stood his ground like a stone wall, his eyes cold and unwavering.
May you like
“You won't touch her, Julian,” Dad said softly, his voice chillingly calm. “Because if you take one more step, you won't just be facing fraud charges. You’ll be facing federal prosecution.”
At that exact moment, the loud, wailing sound of police sirens echoed down the long driveway outside the house.
