Chapter 7 - THE ARRESTThe sharp sound of heavy iron handcuffs clicking around Evelyn’s manicured wrists echoed through the silent drawing room.
"Get your filthy hands off me!" Evelyn shrieked, thrashing against Marcus’s unyielding grip. "Do you know who I am? I am Evelyn Vance! I have connections! I will sue every single person in this room!"
"You have the right to remain silent," a calm, authoritative voice announced from the front entrance.
Detective Miller of the City Police Department walked into the room, flanked by four uniformed officers. He carried an official arrest warrant in his hand. He walked past the stunned crowd of guests and stood directly in front of the writhing woman.
"Evelyn Vance," Detective Miller read aloud, "you are under arrest for attempted premeditated murder, corporate financial fraud, unlawful administration of a controlled substance, and child endangerment. We have a signed warrant from a judge, backed by video evidence and forensic toxicology reports."
"Attempted murder?!" Evelyn shrieked, her voice cracking into a desperate pitch. "This is a setup! My son-in-law is a dangerous criminal! He forced me to do this! He forged the footage! You should be arresting him!"
Detective Miller didn't even look at me. He looked down at his clipboard, then back at Evelyn with cold professionalism. "Mr. Moretti was the one who provided us with the independent toxicology results, the untouched server video feeds, and the chemical vials found in your quarters. Everything was vetted by state forensic analysts two hours ago. The evidence is airtight, Mrs. Vance."
The uniformed officers stepped forward, taking control of Evelyn’s arms and forcibly guiding her toward the open foyer doors.
As she was dragged past the crowd of high-society women who had praised her just thirty minutes prior, she saw them holding up their phones, live-streaming her arrest to thousands of viewers online. The very weapon she had used to build her fake saintly persona—social media—was now broadcasting her ultimate downfall to the entire world in real-time.
"Isabella! Tell them!" Evelyn begged, turning her head back toward us, her eyes wide with frantic desperation as she was pulled into the grand hallway. "I'm your mother! You can't let them do this to me! Speak up for me! Isabella!"
Isabella stood beside me, her expression unreadable, her head held high. She slowly wrapped her arms around my arm, leaning her head gently against my shoulder.
"Goodbye, Evelyn," Isabella said softly, her voice barely above a whisper, but carrying absolute finality.
The heavy mahogany front doors slammed shut, cutting off Evelyn’s frantic screams. The sirens of the waiting police cruisers blared outside, echoing down the long, gated drive as the monster was finally taken away in chains.
The room remained in stunned silence. The high-society guests stood frozen, unsure of how to react to the dramatic collapse of the woman they had admired.
I turned to face the crowd, my voice calm, smooth, and commanding.
"Ladies and gentlemen," I said, looking across the room. "The charity event is officially concluded. My security team will escort you safely to your vehicles. I suggest you turn off your cameras and delete any unauthorized photos taken inside my estate before you reach the front gates."
The silent threat in my voice was unmistakable. Within three minutes, every single guest had quietly, hurriedly exited the mansion, leaving the vast floor completely clear.
Isabella let out a long, deep breath, the tension finally draining from her shoulders. She turned into my chest, and I wrapped my arms around her tight, holding her against me.
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"It's over," she whispered against my lapel.
"Not quite," I murmured gently, kissing the top of her head. "There is still one final detail I need to take care of."
