Chapter 7 - The Arrest
A sharp, authoritative knock echoed against the lounge doors. Julian stood up, motioning for Maya to stay seated, and unlocked the heavy wooden panels. Vance stood in the doorway, his massive frame blocking the view of the ballroom. Behind him stood three uniformed police officers and two detectives in plain clothes.
"The perimeter is totally secured, boss," Vance reported, his voice a low, gravelly rumble. "Hazmat just walked through the front doors. They are securing the contaminated tablecloth and the glass right now."
"And my fiancée? And Marcus?" Julian asked, his tone laced with ice.
"Detained in the main hall," Vance replied. "They are causing quite a scene."
Julian nodded and stepped out of the lounge, signaling the detectives to follow him. When he re-entered the ballroom, the string quartet was long gone. The room looked like a beautifully decorated war zone. Victoria was sitting on a gilded chair, weeping loudly, mascara running down her flawless face. Marcus was handcuffed to a heavy dining table, surrounded by four police officers.
"Julian!" Victoria shrieked the moment she saw him. She tried to run toward him, but an officer blocked her path. "Julian, tell them to stop this madness! Marcus would never do something like this! That waitress is a corporate spy, I swear it!"
Julian didn't even blink. He walked up to Marcus, who was sweating profusely, his expensive tuxedo now crumpled and pathetic.
"You were my mentor, Marcus," Julian said, his voice barely above a whisper, yet carrying across the silent room. "I trusted you with half of Sterling Vanguard. Was it not enough? Did you need the crown that badly?"
"Julian, listen to me, it wasn't my idea!" Marcus babbled, his eyes wide with absolute terror. He looked desperately at his sister. "Victoria made me do it! She said the prenuptial agreement was too strict! She said we had to take control before the wedding!"
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"Shut up, you idiot!" Victoria screamed, her carefully crafted mask of elegance completely shattering. She lunged at her brother, only to be caught and restrained by a female officer.
Julian turned his back on them both, completely disgusted. "Officers, arrest them. I will press every single charge my legal team can construct."
