Chapter 8 - the trap sprung
The central grand hall of St. Margaret's Academy was bathed in soft chandelier light as Vanessa Crowe walked through the front double doors.
She wore a sleek dark coat over her white dress, her diamond earrings catching the light, her face twisted in arrogant satisfaction. Beside her walked four heavy security enforcers in dark suits, their hands resting near their jacket lapels.
"Bring the girl down," Vanessa ordered the school headmaster, who stood trembling near the front desk. "We are transferring her to the airport immediately."
"She isn't going anywhere, Vanessa," a deep, booming voice echoed down from the grand marble staircase.
Vanessa spun around.
Dominic Bellucci walked slowly down the marble stairs. He wore his tailored black suit, his posture tall, imposing, and frighteningly calm. Behind him, Frank and six Bellucci enforcers took positions along the upper balcony, their sidearms drawn and aimed with absolute precision at Vanessa's guards.
Vanessa’s eyes flashed with anger, but she quickly recovered her smirking demeanor.
"You're late for our midnight meeting, Dominic," Vanessa said, holding her head high. "Did you bring the signed transfer deeds for the shipping docks?"
Dominic reached the foot of the stairs, stopping ten feet away from her. "I brought something better, Vanessa."
Dominic signaled to the top of the stairs. Frank stepped forward, holding small Lily’s hand, while Bruno stood right beside the young girl.
Vanessa’s face went pale for the first time. "How did you... how did you get past the perimeter guards?"
"Your guards were amateur, Vanessa," Dominic stated coldly. "Just like your little scheme eight years ago."
Dominic pulled a heavy legal binder from his jacket and tossed it onto the glass coffee table between them.
"Inside that folder is the original birth ledger from Saint Jude’s Hospital, signed by Nurse Elena before she died," Dominic revealed smoothly. "Along with a complete forensic audit of the three million dollars you embezzled from your late husband's estate to pay off Dr. Harrison."
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Vanessa swallowed hard, her arrogant smile finally collapsing into pure desperation. "That doesn't matter! The council will never support you if I tell them you hid a second heir!"
"The council already knows, Vanessa," Dominic said, his deep voice carrying a terrifying finality. "I spoke to the senior elders twenty minutes ago. They have already stripped your family of all voting rights in the city."
