Chapter 9 - The Ultimatum
The federal agents did not even look in my direction.
They walked straight past me and surrounded my father in the middle of the crowded corridor.
Michael's hacked documents had apparently been sent directly to the local field office the night before.
Richard was handcuffed against the marble wall, his face turning purple with indignation.
My mother shrieked, clutching her expensive pearls and demanding they unhand her husband immediately.
Natalie dropped to her knees, sobbing uncontrollably, loudly confessing to anyone listening that her father made her do it.
It was a pathetic, glorious display of instant karma.
The bailiffs arrived a few minutes later, leading Tyler and Megan safely down the corridor.
I fell to the floor, pulling both of my children into the tightest, most desperate hug of my entire life.
Tyler rested his head on my shoulder, his bruised chest finally safe against me.
Megan was crying, but she looked fiercely proud of what she had accomplished with her little prepaid phone.
We walked out of that courthouse together, leaving the toxic wreckage of my family behind us forever.
The legal aftermath was swift and utterly devastating for them.
Richard was denied bail, facing decades in federal prison for wire fraud and international money laundering.
Natalie took a cowardly plea deal, trading her luxury lifestyle for a minimum-security facility in another state.
My mother was left entirely bankrupt, her precious reputation shattered on the front page of the local news.
My credit was restored, the fraudulent loans were completely wiped out, and my name was entirely cleared.
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I bought four brand new tires for my car and drove my kids to a beautiful, quiet cabin for the weekend to heal.
We finally had our own delayed Thanksgiving dinner with turkey, pie, and actual peace.
