Chapter 7 - The Execution
"But the truth," David projected to the silent ballroom, "is that I was the victim of a masterfully executed fraud. A fraud orchestrated by the woman standing next to me."
A collective gasp rippled through the room. Chloe's face went completely pale.
"David, stop it! He's drunk!" Chloe shouted to the crowd, trying to grab the microphone.
David effortlessly stepped out of her reach and signaled the audio-visual team in the booth. The massive projector screens behind the stage, which had been displaying a monogram of their initials, suddenly flickered.
High-definition bank statements appeared on the screens. Audio recordings began to play over the sound system. It was Chloe's voice.
"Make sure the hospital records are deleted permanently. If he finds out she's pregnant, the divorce is off. I'll wire the thirty-five thousand today."
The ballroom erupted into chaos. The mayor looked horrified. The socialites began whispering frantically.
"You ruined my life!" Chloe screamed at David, completely losing her composure. She lunged at him, her manicured nails aimed at his face.
Before she could reach him, four uniformed police officers stepped out from the wings of the stage.
"Chloe Vance," the lead detective announced, grabbing her arms and spinning her around. "You are under arrest for extortion, wire fraud, grand larceny, and criminal conspiracy."
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As the handcuffs clicked around her wrists, Chloe began to wail, a shrill, desperate sound. The photographers' flashes went into overdrive, capturing the spectacular, humiliating destruction of the woman who thought she could play God.
David didn't watch her get dragged away. He simply walked off the stage, out the back exit, and into his waiting car.
