Chapter 12 - The Phantom Hacker
The heavy rain battered against the tall glass windows of the Boston estate as we formulated our defensive strategy.
The federal agents immediately placed an international red notice on Evan's biometric data, flagging his passport across all European borders.
However, Evan was a brilliant software engineer with a billion dollars at his disposal.
He had likely purchased multiple untraceable identities on the dark web the moment he arrived in Paris.
Just as Richard was explaining the complex process of voiding Evan's paternal rights, the entire mansion suddenly plunged into total darkness.
The crystal chandeliers died instantly, and the heavy security shutters violently slammed shut over the windows.
"Do not move!" the lead federal agent shouted, drawing his suppressed firearm in the pitch-black dining room.
The estate's emergency backup generators failed to kick in, which was theoretically and completely impossible.
Suddenly, the large flat-screen television on the dining room wall hummed to life, casting a harsh, blue light across our faces.
A distorted, digital voice echoed through the expensive surround-sound speakers.
"Hello, Claire," the mechanical voice mocked, sending a terrifying chill directly down my spine.
"You look very comfortable in Margaret's house, spending money that belongs to me," Evan's voice continued, stripped of all its former warmth.
He had completely hacked into the estate's highly encrypted mainframe from a remote server.
"You are a coward, Evan!" I screamed at the glowing screen, entirely refusing to show him any fear.
"I am a visionary, Claire, and you were just a convenient alibi while I built my empire," he laughed cruelly.
He casually admitted that he never loved me and only married me because my chaotic, greedy family provided the perfect distraction for his illicit financial moves.
"I have frozen all your personal credit cards and locked the trust accounts," Evan gloated.
"Bring my daughter to the Swiss consulate in Geneva by Friday, or I will systematically destroy everyone in that room," he threatened.
The television screen violently sparked and went completely black, followed by the immediate return of the mansion's lights.
Grandma Margaret stood up slowly, smoothing the wrinkles from her elegant skirt.
"Richard, I want you to unfreeze those accounts by midnight, even if you have to wake up a federal judge," she ordered calmly.
She turned to me and placed a comforting hand on my trembling shoulder.
"He thinks he can terrorize us from the shadows, but he just made a massive tactical error," she smiled dangerously.
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"What error?" I asked, my heart hammering fiercely against my ribs.
"He gave us a location and a deadline, and now we are going to set a trap," Margaret declared.
