Chapter 14: The Phone Call
Back at the Vance estate, the afternoon sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, casting a warm, amber glow across the manicured gardens.
I was sitting in the sunroom, sipping a fresh cup of tea, when my private phone buzzed on the glass table.
I glanced at the screen. The caller ID showed a secure, restricted line directly from Arthur’s intelligence desk.
I swiped to answer and pressed the phone to my ear. "Arthur? What is it?"
"Good afternoon, Ms. Vance," Arthur’s calm, professional voice came through the speaker. "I thought you would want an update on the Davis family residence."
"Go ahead," I said, taking a slow sip of tea.
"Richard Davis fled the country two nights ago," Arthur reported smoothly. "Before doing so, he transferred all remaining liquid assets and the deed to their primary residence into an offshore shell company under his sole name. Mrs. Davis and Chloe are currently sitting in an empty mansion with no money, no credit cards, and federal bankruptcy officers locking down their physical assets."
I paused, letting the information sink in. Richard Davis, the man who had lorded over his social circle with arrogant pride, had thrown his own wife and daughter under the bus the second federal pressure mounted.
"Karma has a very efficient delivery system," I murmured quietly.
"Indeed," Arthur agreed. "Furthermore, Mrs. Davis attempted to contact our legal office five minutes ago, begging for a direct line to speak with you."
"And what did you tell her?"
"I told her that your schedule is completely full, and that the Vance family legal department does not communicate with bankrupt fugitives."
A small, satisfied smile touched my lips. "Good."
"There is one more thing, Ms. Vance," Arthur added, his tone shifting slightly, becoming more formal. "A representative from the federal prosecutor's office contacted my desk an hour ago regarding Dominic Sterling."
I straightened slightly, setting my teacup down on the saucer. "What did they say?"
"Dominic is attempting to secure a plea deal," Arthur said. "In exchange for a reduced sentence on the money laundering charges, he has offered to cooperate fully with federal prosecutors regarding his father-in-law's financial crimes. And..." Arthur paused for a fraction of a second. "...he submitted a formal request to the family court judge for a supervised visitation meeting with you once the baby is born."
The silence in the sunroom felt heavy for a moment.
Dominic, sitting in a federal holding cell, realizing his entire life had collapsed, was now trying to cling to the one thing he had treated with absolute contempt: our marriage and our child.
"A visitation meeting?" I repeated, my voice calm and ice-cold.
"His attorney argued that he has a paternal right to be involved in the child's life," Arthur noted.
I stood up from my chair, walking over to the floor-to-ceiling windows to look out over the peaceful lake reflecting the twilight sky.
"Tell the prosecutor’s office that my legal team will file an immediate objection," I instructed, my voice unwavering. "Dominic made his choice the moment he stood by while his family assaulted me and demanded I prove I wasn't a thief. He surrendered all rights to this family the day he chose cowardice over his wife and unborn child."
"Understood, Ms. Vance," Arthur replied without hesitation. "I will have our legal team block the motion immediately."
"Thank you, Arthur."
I ended the call and slipped my phone into the pocket of my cardigan.
As I turned back toward the room, my father walked in, holding a small, beautifully wrapped package with a pink ribbon.
"Delivery just arrived from Milan," my father said with a warm, proud smile, holding out the package. "The nursery rocking chair finally cleared customs."
I walked over, taking the ribbon in my hands, feeling the warmth of my father’s presence and the absolute safety of my home.
May you like
"Let's go set it up," I said, smiling genuinely for the first time all day.
Little did I know, down in the city, Dominic was about to receive a devastating piece of news from his own attorney that would shatter his last remaining illusion of control.
