Chapter 4 - The Penthouse and the Plan
The penthouse of the Vance Plaza Hotel in downtown Chicago was a world away from the drafty suburban house in Oak Park. It occupied the entire thirty-fifth floor, with floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out over the sparkling waters of Lake Michigan and the soaring towers of the Loop.
My mother and the nurses we had hired had set up three beautiful, white wooden cribs in the nursery room, complete with soft organic cotton sheets, silver rattles, and custom-made plush bears bearing the Vance family crest.
I sat in a plush velvet armchair, holding Sam against my chest while Max and Leo slept peacefully in their cribs. The warmth of the room and the quiet hum of the city below finally allowed my shoulders to drop.
My father walked into the nursery, carrying two cups of chamomile tea. He handed one to me and sat down in the opposite chair, his gray eyes soft as he looked at his grandson.
"How are you feeling, Evelyn?" he asked gently.
"I'm tired, Dad," I admitted, taking a small sip of the hot tea. "But my mind is clear. I can't believe I let him treat me like that for so long. I was so blind."
"Love makes us see what we want to see, my darling," my father said, leaning back. "Adrian was a charming parasite. He saw a beautiful, intelligent woman who didn't demand luxury, and he assumed you were easy to manipulate. He didn't realize that your humility was a choice, not a lack of options."
"What happens now?" I asked. "He’s not going to sign the papers now that he knows who you are. He’ll try to fight for custody, or at least for a massive settlement."
"Let him try," my father said, a cold, sharp light appearing in his eyes. "Our legal team, led by Arthur Pendelton, has already filed a counter-suit in the family court. We are seeking sole physical and legal custody of the boys, with zero visitation rights for Adrian based on abandonment and emotional distress. We are also filing a civil suit against him and Celeste Monroe for conspiracy to commit financial fraud regarding the transfer of the house."
"And the firm?" I asked. "Adrian was boasting about his big promotion to senior partner last week."
My father let out a quiet, dry laugh. "The senior partners of Vale & Associates were very cooperative once we showed them the forensic audit of Adrian’s expense accounts. He had been billing the firm for weekend trips to Miami with Celeste, claiming they were 'client consultations.' He was fired this morning for gross professional misconduct. His license to practice architecture in the state of Illinois is currently under review by the licensing board."
May you like
"He's going to lose everything," I whispered.
"He chose his path, Evelyn," my father said, reaching out to pat my hand. "He thought he could discard you like trash because he believed you had no one to stand behind you. He forgot that the Vance family does not abandon its own. Now, you must focus on your recovery and these three boys. Leave Adrian to me."
