Chapter 6 - The Scramble of the Parasites
The sight of shiny steel handcuffs clicking around my mother's and sister's wrists sent them into a frenzy of screams and hysterical weeping.
"Julian! Tell them to stop!" Evelyn shrieked, struggling against the officer as she was pushed toward the police cruiser. "I am your mother! I gave birth to you! How can you do this to your own mother?!"
"You didn't act like a mother when you locked my wife in a shed, Evelyn," I said, standing on the grand front steps with my arms crossed over my chest. "You acted like a warden."
"Brother, please!" Victoria sobbed, her expensive makeup running down her face in black streaks. "I was just doing what Mom told me! I didn't know! It was all her idea!"
"Save it for the judge, Victoria," I said coldly, turning my back on them as the police cars drove down the long driveway, their red and blue lights flashing against the morning sun.
By noon, the news of the arrest hit the local media. The Caldwell family—once celebrated in high-society circles for their philanthropy and wealth—became an overnight scandal. The local news ran photos of the luxurious mansion alongside photos of the dark, filthy shed where Elena and Julian had been imprisoned.
The public outcry was immediate and fierce. Socialites who had attended Evelyn's parties scrubbed their social media accounts, denying any association with her. High-end boutiques where Victoria had spent tens of thousands of dollars revoked her VIP memberships and sent unpaid debt notices to her attorney.
Meanwhile, Marcus Vance’s auditing team worked tirelessly in the mansion’s study. Within forty-eight hours, they uncovered a paper trail of greed that was even worse than I had imagined.
"It's incredible, Julian," Marcus said, sliding a thick report across the desk to me. "They didn't just spend your monthly $8,000 allowance. Two years ago, Evelyn forged your signature on a power of attorney document."
My eyes narrowed. "What did she do?"
"She took out a secondary mortgage of $300,000 against this mansion," Marcus revealed, his expression grim. "She used the cash to buy Victoria a luxury condo downtown and fund a failed private equity venture started by Victoria’s boyfriend, a known con man named Gregory Thorne."
I leaned back in my chair, taking a deep breath. "Where is this Gregory Thorne now?"
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"He's currently living in that downtown condo," Marcus smiled thinly. "And he has no idea that the property is about to be seized by the court as part of the asset recovery process."
"Good," I said, a cold determination settling into my heart. "Let's pay Mr. Thorne a visit."
