Chapter 10 - Chloe’s Gambit
Before the court hearing, an unexpected message reached my private encrypted phone.
It was a text from Chloe Miller:
*“I have the original recordings of Daniel and Eleanor plotting to forge your signature on the custody contract. Meet me at the docks warehouse at 8 PM, or I sell them to Julian Cross.”*
"It's obviously an ambush," Cassandra said immediately, standing beside my desk. "She’s broke, desperate, and trying to extort cash to flee the country."
"Of course it's an ambush," I replied, fastening a diamond bracelet around my wrist. "Which is why we are going to walk right into it."
"Vivienne," Arthur warned from the door. "You don't need to put yourself in harm's way. I can send twenty men to break her legs."
"No, Dad," I said, meeting his eyes. "For three years, Chloe tormented me in that house. She whispered poison into Daniel’s ear, she stole my jewelry, and she kicked me out in the rain while I was carrying my child. I need to close this chapter myself."
At 8 PM, under a torrential downpour, two black Thorne SUVs pulled into the abandoned pier warehouse district. The rain lashed against the rusted corrugated metal as I stepped out, sheltered by a large black umbrella held by an operative.
Inside the warehouse, Chloe stood alone beneath a flickering halogen lamp, holding a yellow manila folder. She looked wild, her hair soaking wet, her expensive coat torn at the hem.
"You actually came," Chloe sneered, clutching the folder tightly. "I want five million dollars, Vivienne. In bearer bonds. Or this folder goes to Julian Cross tonight."
"What's in the folder, Chloe?" I asked, stepping forward, unfazed by the dim, eerie surroundings.
"Proof that Daniel forged your signature on the prenatal surrender agreement while you were asleep in the hospital months ago," she said, her voice shaking with greed. "Eleanor planned it all along. If you pay me, you win your custody case without a fight."
"And if I don't?"
"Then Daniel gets joint custody, and Eleanor gets court-ordered visitation. You'll have to hand your precious baby over to them every other weekend!"
I smiled softly—a cold, pitying smile.
"Did you really think I came here alone without doing my homework, Chloe?"
Suddenly, the warehouse doors behind Chloe slammed open. Four plainclothes federal detectives stepped into the light, their badges gleaming on their leather jackets.
"Chloe Miller," the lead detective announced. "You are under arrest for extortion, interstate wire fraud, and tampering with evidence in an ongoing federal investigation."
Chloe’s eyes bulged in pure terror. "What?! No! Vivienne, what did you do?!"
"You contacted an encrypted line monitored by the Federal Bureau of Investigation," I said smoothly. "Every word of your extortion attempt was recorded. And by bringing those forged documents here, you just handed the federal prosecutor the exact chain of evidence we needed to put you, Eleanor, and Julian Cross in prison for conspiracy."
"You tricked me!" Chloe screamed, lunging at me like a feral beast.
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Before she could take two steps, the detectives tackled her to the concrete floor, twisting her arms behind her back and slapping cold steel handcuffs onto her wrists.
"Enjoy prison, Chloe," I whispered as they dragged her away into the pouring rain. "Tell Eleanor I'll see her in court tomorrow."