Chapter 18 - The Collapse of the House of Cards
Judge Cho glared down at Richard and Sterling, her expression thunderous.
"This court will not be used as a weapon for corporate extortion," Judge Cho barked. "The motion to freeze the assets of The Vance Haven is denied with prejudice. Furthermore, I am forwarding these documents immediately to the Department of Justice. Mr. Vance, Mr. Sterling, you are ordered not to leave the jurisdiction."
The courtroom erupted into chaos. Reporters rushed toward Richard, who was frantically trying to shield his face from the cameras. He looked small, pathetic, and utterly defeated.
Claire stood up, walking past the shouting crowd. As she passed Richard, he grabbed the sleeve of her coat, his eyes wild with desperation.
"Claire, please! You have to help me! They will ruin me! We can work this out, please!" he begged, his voice cracking.
Claire gently but firmly pulled her sleeve from his grasp. She looked down at him, not with anger or hatred, but with a profound, liberating pity.
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"You never understood, Richard," Claire said softly, her voice carrying over the din of the reporters. "You thought power was about how many people you could crush. I learned that true power is about how many people you can lift up. Goodbye, Richard."
She walked out of the courtroom, flanked by David, into a wall of flashing cameras. This time, she didn't hide her face. She smiled.
