Chapter 5 - The Trap
With Clara’s evidence and Victoria’s legal strategy, the tide began to turn, but Ethan was growing desperate.
On Wednesday afternoon, Emma received a legal summons. Ethan was suing her for breach of contract, defamation, and demanding $2 million in damages for "reputational harm" to his firm. Attached to the summons was a private note left on her car windshield: “Meet me at the lake house alone tonight to drop the counterclaims, or your father’s arrest warrant goes out tomorrow morning.”
"It’s a trap," Sarah insisted, pacing back and forth in Victoria's office. "You can't go there alone!"
"I’m not going alone," Emma said calmly, turning to Victoria. "We’re bringing the police, a private investigator, and a court stenographer. But Ethan needs to think I’m alone."
That night, heavy fog rolled over the secluded lakeside property where Ethan was staying. Emma walked up the timber steps, her coat wrapped tightly around her. Hidden beneath her lapel was a micro-wire, transmitting audio directly to Victoria and a team of detectives parked half a mile down the access road.
She pushed open the unlocked door. Ethan was sitting by the stone fireplace, a glass of scotch in his hand. The charming facade was completely gone, replaced by a hollow, sunken aggression.
"You took your time," Ethan said without turning around. "I knew you’d come. You always obey when your father is on the line."
"What do you want, Ethan?" Emma asked, standing near the entry hall, keeping her distance.
He stood up, walking toward her with slow, deliberate steps. "I want you to sign the retraction. I want you to issue a public statement saying you had a psychotic break. And then you are going to move back into the penthouse until the annulment quietly goes through in six months."
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"And if I refuse?"
Ethan laughed, taking a long sip of his drink. "If you refuse, my contacts at the state attorney’s office press the button on your father. I fabricated the shell company documents two months ago, Emma. I made sure your father’s signature was on every single fraudulent transaction. He’ll die in prison."
