Chapter 6 - The Arraignment of the Golden Boy
While Karen was being dragged into deep custody in Westchester, an even more devastating reckoning was unfolding at the Harvard Law School campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The morning sun had barely cleared the spire of Langdell Hall when two black unmarked Suburbans pulled onto Massachusetts Avenue.
Ethan had been granted a temporary twenty-four-hour conditional release on a million-dollar personal surety bond signed by Evelyn late the night before—before the video leaked. He had fled to his luxury Cambridge apartment, convinced that if he could just get on campus, speak to his professors, and hide behind the prestige of the university, the storm would pass.
He was sitting in the Harkness Commons cafeteria, surrounded by horrified students staring at their phones, when the double doors swung open.
Four United States Marshals and two officers from the Cambridge Police Department strode into the hall.
At the head of the contingent was Dean Manning of Harvard Law School, accompanied by the Dean of Students.
Ethan stood up, his face flushing crimson, trying to force an easy, charming smile. "Dean Manning! I’m so glad you’re here. I’ve been trying to reach your office all morning. There has been a catastrophic digital manipulation of a family gathering—"
"Mr. Vance," Dean Manning interrupted. The Dean’s voice was as cold as dry ice. "Save your breath."
Dean Manning handed him a crisp, white envelope bearing the university’s embossed seal.
"Effective immediately at 7:00 AM this morning, your enrollment at Harvard Law School has been permanently terminated. You are expelled."
Ethan stared at the letter, his chest heaving. "Expelled?! You can't expel me without an Administrative Board hearing! I’m entitled to due process! My grandfather's endowment—"
"There is no endowment from your grandfather," Dean Manning said with unyielding disdain. "The donor who paid every single dollar of your tuition, Judge Victoria Vance, exercised her lawful right to terminate all funding based on your violation of the moral conduct clause. Furthermore, our disciplinary board convened in an emergency executive session at noon following the public release of the video footage."
Dean Manning stepped closer, his gaze withering. "Your actions against that little girl are an absolute disgrace to this institution and the legal profession. You are banned from campus property permanently. If you set foot on Harvard grounds after today, you will be arrested for criminal trespass."
"You can't do this to me!" Ethan screamed, tears finally spilling over his cheeks. "I have an offer at Sullivan & Cromwell! I am supposed to start in June!"
"Sullivan & Cromwell rescinded your offer three hours ago," one of the Marshals stepped forward, pulling a fresh federal warrant from his jacket. "Ethan Vance, you are in violation of your pre-trial release conditions. A federal magistrate has revoked your bond based on new evidence of witness intimidation and tampering. Put your hands behind your back."
Students throughout the cafeteria pulled out their smartphones, recording every single second.
The golden boy of the Vance family was slammed against the dining table, his wrists bound in heavy steel chains, and marched out through the central courtyard in full view of his entire peer group.
As he was pushed into the back of the federal vehicle, Ethan looked up to see a sea of flashing phone cameras.
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His career was dead. His reputation was incinerated. His future had vanished into thin air.
***