Chapter 4 - The Handcuffs
The police sergeant carefully reviewed the bright screen of the waiter's smartphone.
The high-definition footage left absolutely no room for interpretation or doubt.
It clearly showed Julian maliciously changing the angle of his push to ensure Mark would hit the sharp decorative rocks.
The sergeant immediately released my wrists from the cold metal handcuffs.
He turned his grim attention to my husband, who was suddenly backing away toward the garden gate.
Two strong officers tackled Julian to the freshly manicured grass before he could even make a run for it.
Julian screamed obscenities and thrashed wildly as they locked the heavy cuffs around his wrists.
They dragged him toward the flashing lights of the patrol cars, publicly humiliating him in front of the very people he had tried to impress.
I finally exhaled a massive breath of relief, foolishly believing the worst of this nightmare was finally over.
I thanked the young waiter profusely for his bravery and started walking toward the empty house to check on my sleeping children.
Before I could reach the glass patio doors, two men in sharp suits stepped directly into my path.
They flashed shiny golden badges and identified themselves as federal financial investigators.
One of the agents informed me that they had been investigating Julian's corporate embezzlement for the last three months.
I nodded quickly, telling them I had just exposed his crimes to the entire party.
The older agent did not smile, his expression remaining completely stoic and threatening.
He pulled a thick folder from his briefcase and handed me a series of complicated bank statements.
The documents clearly showed that the offshore shell company holding the stolen funds was entirely registered in my name.
My signature was perfectly forged on every single line of the corporate loan agreements.
The agent calmly explained that Julian had meticulously framed me as the sole mastermind behind the massive financial theft.
He warned me that I was currently the prime suspect in a federal fraud case involving millions of dollars.
The second agent added that if I was formally indicted, child protective services would immediately take custody of my newborn and toddler.
My heart shattered into a million pieces as the horrifying reality of Julian's ultimate revenge became clear.
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I turned and ran frantically into the house to secure my babies.
I slammed the nursery door open, only to find the room completely empty.
