Chapter 7 - The Downfall of Decker Worthington
Forty-eight hours later, the San Francisco financial district was in chaos.
Front-page headlines across every major news outlet read: WORTHINGTON ENTERPRISE SCANDAL: FORMER CHAIRMAN DECKER WORTHINGTON INDICTED FOR MEDICAL FRAUD AND BRIBERY.
Federal agents had raided Dr. Harrison’s private residence at dawn, seizing computer drives and internal medical ledgers that revealed a decade of falsified diagnoses carried out for wealthy elite clients seeking to void prenuptial agreements or manipulate family inheritance lines.
In the executive suite of Worthington Tower, Decker sat in a chair across from federal prosecutors, handcuffed.
Darwin stood by the glass window, looking down at the city.
"You're destroying this family, Darwin!" Decker spat, his face red with rage as the guards pulled him to his feet. "You're throwing away our reputation for a middle-class girl and two bastard children!"
Darwin didn't even turn around. "They are not bastards. They are my legitimate heirs, and Sydney was the only real thing this family ever had."
"You won't survive this board vote!" Decker shouted as he was dragged toward the door. "Phoebe's father will pull all state development permits! You'll be ruined!"
"Senator Vance signed the revocation of Phoebe’s marriage contract an hour ago," Darwin said calmly, finally turning to face his uncle. "He realized that if he didn't distance himself from you and Phoebe's role in the cover-up, his political career would be over by nightfall."
Decker’s eyes widened in sheer panic as he realized every ally he had spent decades cultivating had abandoned him. The heavy oak doors clicked shut behind him as federal agents led him away in chains.
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Darwin sat down at his desk and pulled out a small velvet box from his drawer. Inside rested the simple platinum wedding band Sydney had left on the nightstand six years ago.
He picked it up, holding it tightly in his palm. The war against his family was won, but the real battle—the battle for Sydney’s forgiveness—had barely begun.
