Chapter 4 - The House of Cards
The chaotic momentum in the courtroom shifted with the terrifying speed of a collapsing avalanche.
Julian Vance, the high-priced lead attorney representing Jonathan, stood up, grabbed his leather briefcase, and backed away from the defense table as if Jonathan had suddenly contracted a contagious disease.
“Your Honor,” Vance announced loudly, holding his hands up in a gesture of total surrender. “Given the new evidentiary disclosures, which were entirely undisclosed to defense counsel prior to this moment, the firm of Vance & Sterling formally moves to withdraw from representing Mr. Reed, effective immediately.”
Jonathan whipped around, staring at his lawyer in sheer disbelief. “What are you talking about? You can't just quit! I've paid you half a million dollars—!”
“You’ve paid us with funds derived from concealed marital assets and fraudulent financial statements,” Vance retorted coldly, not even looking his former client in the eye. He grabbed his associates and retreated straight to the back row of the gallery, completely abandoning the billionaire.
Victoria Reed stood up, her face flushed with rage and humiliation. She pointed a trembling, pearl-ringed finger at the judge. “This is a kangaroo court! You are destroying a pillar of the Chicago business community over the theatrical stunt of a neglected child! We will appeal this to the state supreme court before the sun sets!”
“Sit down, Mrs. Reed, or you will be joining your son in county jail for contempt of court,” Judge Thomas barked, his voice silencing her instantly. He turned his attention back to the monitor, where the financial ledgers were still scrolling through an endless list of shell companies.
The judge looked down from the bench, his expression softening slightly as he looked at Olivia and her two young boys.
“Mrs. Carter,” Judge Thomas said, his tone respectful and steady. “I owe you an apology. The court relies on sworn affidavits and financial disclosures, and it is clear Mr. Reed has engaged in a systematic, premeditated fraud against both this court and his family.”
Olivia wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, her voice shaking as she spoke. “I just... I just wanted my boys to be safe, Your Honor. I didn't care about the money. I just wanted them to stop being afraid of their own home.”
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“They won't have to be afraid ever again,” Judge Thomas declared. He picked up his gavel, but before he could bring it down, the courtroom doors at the back swung open with a loud bang.
Two federal agents in dark suits strode purposefully down the center aisle, badges gleaming in the courtroom lights.
