“You Want Every Penny He Left Behind?” — After Her Husband Died in His Mistress’s Bed, His Parents Called Her “Too Ugly” and Demanded His Empire… So She Agreed to Give Them Everything—Until the FBI Walked Through the Door

Before Celia or Bernard could even begin to comprehend the magnitude of their financial ruin, the heavy oak doors of the conference room clicked open.

Two tall men in dark grey suits stepped into the room, followed by a woman carrying a thick leather briefcase. The men held themselves with an unmistakable, rigid authority.

The lead man pulled a leather badge holder from his coat pocket, opening it to reveal a silver shield.

"FBI Financial Crimes Division," Special Agent Marcus Vance announced, his voice booming through the room. "I am looking for the legal representatives of the Estate of Grant Holloway."

Celia gasped, shrinking back into her chair. Bernard looked like he was about to have a massive coronary event right then and there.

"Who... who represents the estate?" Agent Vance asked again, looking around the room.

Naomi stood up calmly, gesturing toward Celia and Bernard.

"Agent Vance," Naomi said with smooth professionalism. "Just two minutes ago, Mr. and Mrs. Holloway executed a notarized, unconditional Estate Assumption Agreement. They are now the sole legal representatives and controlling entities of Grant Holloway's estate."

Agent Vance looked down at the signed documents on the table, then turned his gaze upon the pale, trembling couple.

"Celia and Bernard Holloway?" Agent Vance asked.

"Y-yes?" Bernard squeaked.

The female agent stepped forward, pulling a thick stack of federal legal papers from her briefcase and placing them squarely in front of Celia.

"You are hereby served with a Federal Evidence Preservation Notice and an Asset Freeze Mandate connected to Operation Marrowline," the agent declared. "As the legal representatives of the estate, you are required to surrender all financial records, personal laptops, hard drives, and communication devices belonging to Grant Holloway within twenty-four hours."

"Asset freeze?" Celia whimpered, her hands shaking violently. "What do you mean, asset freeze?"

"Because Grant Holloway ran an illegal $8.4 million Ponzi scheme using personal shell accounts," Agent Vance explained coldly, "all bank accounts, real estate, and physical assets tied to his estate or his direct legal representatives are subject to immediate federal clawback and freeze orders."

"Our personal accounts?" Bernard shrieked. "You can't freeze our personal accounts! We didn't do anything!"

"You just assumed full legal responsibility for his estate, sir," Agent Vance replied without a trace of sympathy. "If any of his fraudulent funds were transferred to you over the last three years—which our records indicate they were—your personal assets are subject to federal forfeiture."