Chapter 15 - The Aftermath
The fall of the Cross empire was spectacular and absolute.
Malcolm Cross, devastated by the betrayal of his son and the crippling debt, lost the hotel company he had spent forty years building. The receivership sold off the properties piece by piece to satisfy the loans. Stripped of his wealth and his reputation, he filed for personal bankruptcy and retreated into total obscurity.
Vivian Cross never saw the inside of a country club again. Faced with the undeniable high-definition video evidence of her attacking me, her high-priced defense attorneys advised her to take a plea deal. She accepted a five-year sentence in a state penitentiary for aggravated assault.
Daniel fared the worst. The emails discussing the extortion plot, combined with the irrefutable evidence of his massive embezzlement, left him with no defense. He pleaded guilty to financial fraud, assault, and witness intimidation. He was sentenced to twelve years in federal prison.
Eight months later, the annulment was finalized. I was officially, legally severed from the Cross family forever.
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The physical healing took longer. I spent months undergoing specialized treatments, enduring agonizing drops and careful light-therapy sessions. But slowly, miraculously, the redness faded. The damaged tissue repaired itself.
By the time the snow began to melt the following spring, my vision had nearly returned to perfect clarity.
