Chapter 17 - Shadows of the Past
Heavy tactical police teams arrived minutes later to bound and arrest the bleeding Arthur Vance.
The explosive news of the internal treason sent seismic shockwaves through the global financial markets the next morning.
The Vance dynasty had triumphantly survived the vicious internal coup, but the aggressive international media was relentless.
Uncountable swarms of paparazzi and journalists surrounded the massive outer iron gates of the estate day and night.
Evelyn stood quietly beside the sweeping floor-to-ceiling glass windows of the grand library, looking out at the flashing cameras.
She was utterly exhausted in her soul, yet her heart felt stronger and more resilient than it had ever been.
Harrison walked up silently behind her, carrying two heavy, wax-sealed official legal envelopes in his hands.
"What are those documents in your hands, Uncle Harrison?" Evelyn asked softly, turning around to face him.
"These contain the absolute, unappealable final court sentences for both Julian and Arthur," Harrison replied heavily.
"Julian has been sentenced to thirty uninterrupted years in maximum security for violent kidnapping and extortion."
"Arthur has received a lifetime sentence without the possibility of parole for treason and attempted mass murder."
Evelyn let out a deep, long, lingering sigh of absolute, profound relief.
"It is finally, truly over now," she murmured softly, looking at the clear sky.
Harrison hesitated for a long, heavy moment before extending the second yellow envelope toward her.
"Not entirely, my brave child," Harrison said, his voice lowering into a deep, emotional resonance.
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"There remains one final, supreme truth that you must be confronted with."
"A secret that your beloved mother made me swear to protect until you were strong enough to bear it."
