Chapter 3 - The Secret Legal War
Julian Vance arrived at the warehouse under the cover of darkness, dressed in a sharp charcoal suit that contradicted his rebellious reputation within the family. He was a brilliant defense attorney who had severed ties with Eleanor a decade ago after she ruthlessly pushed his own father out of the family trust.
When Julian saw the twins, he let out a low whistle, running a hand through his graying hair. "Good God, Eleanor has truly outdone herself this time. Forging legal documents is one thing, but faking a death and kidnapping? This is criminal syndicate territory."
"Can we destroy her with this, Julian?" I demanded, pacing the concrete floor of the loft while Emily put the twins to sleep on a makeshift bed. "I want her in a cell. I want her to suffer exactly what she made Emily suffer."
Julian sat down at the wooden table, opening a sleek laptop. "Slow down, Ryan. We have to play this perfectly. If we go to the police right now, Eleanor’s high-priced lawyers will claim that Emily abandoned the children voluntarily, went into hiding due to postpartum depression, and that the 'death certificate' was an unfortunate administrative mix-up or a hoax perpetrated by someone else. She will tie this up in family court for years, and given her influence, she might even win temporary custody of the twins while the investigation is pending."
Emily emerged from the small bedroom, her face pale. "No. She cannot touch my children."
"She won't, Emily," Julian assured her gently. "But to beat Eleanor, we need to strike her where it actually hurts her: her corporate empire and her public reputation. We need to gather the original documents. The forged divorce papers Ryan signed, the fake death certificate, and most importantly, the financial trail showing that Eleanor paid off your father’s medical debts and the doctors at the hospital to keep you quiet."
"How do we get that?" I asked. "Eleanor keeps all her personal files in the vault at the Vance Enterprises headquarters. Even as the Chief Operating Officer, I don't have the biometric override for her private office."
Julian smiled, a dangerous, sharp expression. "You don't, but I know someone who does. Your father’s old personal assistant, Arthur. Eleanor fired him last year when she suspected he was being too loyal to you. He kept a backup drive of all her personal transactions for his own protection."
"Arthur lives in the suburbs," I remembered. "If we can get that drive, we have the financial proof of the payoff."
"I’ll go get Arthur," Julian said, standing up and closing his laptop. "You stay here and protect your family. Eleanor’s security team lost you today, but they aren't stupid. They will be checking your properties, your bank accounts, and your usual associates. Don't use your credit cards. Don't turn on your phone."
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As Julian left, I looked at Emily. The dust from the country road was gone, washed away, but the shadow of fear remained in her beautiful eyes. I walked over and wrapped my arms around her waist, pulling her close.
"I lost you once," I whispered into her hair. "I will burn the entire Vance empire to the ground before I let them touch you again."
