Chapter 4 - The Ultimate Trap Springs Shut
The silence that descended upon the video call was so heavy you could hear the distant crash of the Cabo waves outside their luxury suite.
Clara’s jaw dropped, the menu slipping from her fingers to land softly on the plush carpet. Her eyes widened in sheer, unadulterated horror as she realized not only was I on the other end of the line, but I was looking straight at her—fully dressed, composed, and completely aware of their betrayal.
"E-Emily..." Clara stammered, raising a trembling hand to cover her mouth. "Wait! Let me explain! It’s not what it looks like!"
"Not what it looks like?" I repeated, letting out a cold, melodic laugh that made both of them flinch. "Clara, honey, you’re standing in a Cabo resort in a silk robe with my fiancé, after telling me you were sitting by your dying mother’s bedside. Unless your mother’s hospital bed has an ocean view and a swim-up bar, I think it looks exactly like what it is."
Derek lunged forward, grabbing the phone from Clara’s hands, his face contorted in desperation. "Em, please! Listen to me! It was a mistake! A momentary lapse in judgment! Clara meant nothing to me, you’re the one I’m marrying! We’re supposed to get married in twelve days!"
"Were," Nolan’s deep, resonant voice cut through the audio.
Derek blinked, finally noticing the tall, imposing figure of my brother standing in the background of my kitchen. Recognition and absolute terror flashed in Derek’s eyes as he connected the dots.
"Nolan?" Derek whispered, his voice trembling. "Nolan, you’re back... wait, did you—was this you?"
Nolan stepped into the frame, leaning over the kitchen island so his face filled the screen. His expression was cold, clinical, and devoid of any human warmth.
"Derek," Nolan said smoothly, his tone resembling a predator addressing a cornered rat. "Let’s review your current net worth as of ten minutes ago. Your corporate position at Vanguard Architecture? Terminated this morning for gross financial misconduct and embezzlement of subsidiary funds. Your personal bank accounts? Frozen indefinitely pending federal and civil fraud investigations. Your home? Foreclosed upon because your personal guarantee on my syndicate’s loan was immediately called due this morning when your financial insolvency clause was triggered."
Derek stumbled backward, nearly tripping over the coffee table in the hotel room. "You can’t do that! That’s illegal! I’ll sue you!"
"Sue me with what money, Derek?" Nolan chuckled softly. "You owe my investment syndicate five million dollars in immediate damages, plus legal fees. Your credit score is currently hovering around three hundred, and every major financial institution in the country has flagged your social security number. You are legally, professionally, and financially bankrupt."
Clara burst into violent, hysterical tears, dropping to her knees in the background. "Derek! You said his family money was safe! You said we’d be rich! You promised!"
Derek spun around, his face twisting into pure malice as he glared down at her. "Shut up, you stupid bitch! This was your idea! You kept pushing me to empty her wedding accounts!"
"Oh, stop fighting, you two," I sighed, adjusting the cuffs of my black Versace blazer. "It’s unbecoming. Besides, you have bigger things to worry about."
"What... what do you mean?" Derek asked, his voice shaking violently.
"Well," I smiled sweetly, looking directly into the camera lens. "When you land back at the airport tomorrow—assuming you can afford the coach bus ticket back, since your return first-class flights were also canceled under the fraud alert—you’ll find process servers waiting at the terminal. My lawyers have filed civil lawsuits against both of you for emotional distress, breach of contract, and grand theft of wedding funds."
Derek stared at me, the final remnants of his arrogant, smug facade completely shattering. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out.
May you like
"Have a wonderful rest of your vacation," I said brightly.
Then, I reached out and tapped the red end-call button.
