Within ten minutes, two police cruisers pulled up the long winding driveway of the Montgomery estate.
The red and blue lights reflected brightly off the high glass windows of the grand entrance.
Four state troopers stepped inside the open front door, holding official arrest warrants in their hands.
State Trooper: Ethan Vance? You are under arrest for grand larceny, corporate wire fraud, and felony domestic assault.
Ethan: Wait! Let me talk to my private defense lawyer first!
State Trooper: You can call whoever you want from the station house, sir. Turn around and put your hands behind your back.
The officer pulled Ethan up from the floor, pulling his arms roughly behind his back and clicking the steel handcuffs into place.
Victoria: Take your hands off my son! He hasn't been convicted of anything yet!
State Trooper: Victoria Vance? We have an arrest warrant for you as well as an accomplice to corporate embezzlement and obstruction of justice.
Victoria: Accomplice?! I’m an innocent woman! I didn't steal anything!
State Trooper: Put your hands behind your back, ma'am. Don't make this any harder than it needs to be.
Victoria shrieked in outrage as the second officer placed heavy steel handcuffs around her wrists.
Victoria: Clara! You will rot in hell for doing this to us!
Clara: I’m going to enjoy living in my family mansion while you spend the next decade in a state prison cell, Victoria.
Ethan: Clara, please! Tell them not to put me in county jail! I won't survive in there!
Clara: You should have thought about that before you put your hands on me last night, Ethan.
The troopers escorted Ethan and Victoria out the grand front doors, pushing them into the back of the waiting police cruisers.
The doors slammed shut, and the sirens began to wail as the cars drove down the long estate driveway.
Clara stood on the front steps, watching the flashing lights vanish into the distance.
Mr. Harrison walked out behind her, holding a tablet with updated news reports.
Lawyer: The board of directors just held an emergency vote, Clara. They unanimously appointed you as the new Chief Executive Officer of Montgomery Enterprises.
Clara: Good. Call an all-hands staff meeting for two o'clock this afternoon.
Lawyer: What would you like me to tell the board members regarding the stolen trust fund money?
Clara: Tell them every penny has been recovered and restored to the main corporate account.
Lawyer: You handled this situation with incredible strength, Clara. Your father would be very proud of you today.
Clara: My father taught me never to let anyone take what belongs to this family, Harrison.
Lawyer: What are your plans for the luxury penthouse downtown?
Clara: Sell it immediately. Put the proceeds directly into our corporate charity foundation.
Lawyer: Right away, Miss Montgomery. I’ll have the listing paperwork ready by end of day.
Clara gently touched the small white bandage on her cheek, feeling no pain anymore.
She smiled softly as the bright morning sun broke through the storm clouds above her mansion.