Chapter 5 - Whispers from the Past
Mark stared at Victoria Sterling in shock.
"My father's partner?" Mark asked.
"My father died ten years ago in a car crash," Mark added.
"That was no accident, Mark," Victoria said quietly.
She opened a leather briefcase and pulled out a single black file.
"Your father discovered a massive money laundering operation tied to offshore accounts," Victoria explained.
"And three months before he died, Sarah joined his accounting firm as a junior analyst," she revealed.
Mark felt the room spin around him.
"No..." Mark stammered.
"I met Sarah at a coffee shop in college!" Mark argued.
"It was a setup, Mark," Victoria stated without hesitation.
"Every single moment of your marriage was constructed."
Mark placed his head in his hands.
The memories of the past seven years shattered in an instant.
The sweet smile, the quiet evenings, the birth of their children.
It was all a calculated lie.
"Why the children?" Mark choked out.
"Why is she bruising Lily and Emma?" he asked, his voice shaking.
Victoria's face grew dark.
"Because your father left a trust fund worth forty million dollars," Victoria explained.
"A trust fund that transfers entirely to your daughters on their eighth birthday," she added.
"Emma turned eight last week," Mark realized out loud.
"Exactly," Victoria said.
"Under the terms of the trust, if you are convicted of a violent felony against the heirs..." Victoria paused.
"...full control of the trust defaults to their legal guardian."
"Sarah," Mark whispered in horror.
"She doesn't just want me in prison," Mark said.
"She wants the forty million dollars," Mark realized.
"And once she gets legal control of that money..." Victoria continued.
"...she won't need the girls anymore."
A chill went straight through Mark's spine.
"Where are my daughters right now?" Mark demanded, standing up.
"They were placed in temporary emergency custody at an undisclosed address," Victoria answered.
"Then we have to get me out on bail tomorrow!" Mark insisted.
Victoria looked down at her hands.
"I can get you bail," Victoria said.
"But you need to know something, Mark."
May you like
"The judge assigned to your arraignment tomorrow morning..." Victoria leaned in closer.
"...is Sarah's uncle."
