Three days after the incident in the ballroom, Arthur arrived at the Vance estate carrying a thick leather briefcase.
Ethan met him in the formal study, pouring two cups of fresh black coffee as they sat across from each other at the mahogany desk.
Arthur: Ethan, you were right to demand an audit of Victoria Sterling's investment funds.
Ethan: What did your forensic accounting team discover, Arthur?
Arthur: Victoria Sterling did not invest her own money into your company. She stole two million dollars from her late husband's charitable trust fund.
Ethan: She embezzled money from a charity foundation?!
Arthur: Precisely. She was using your corporate merger as a money-laundering scheme to hide the missing funds before the state tax authorities audited her accounts.
Ethan: Unbelievable... She was going to use my business to cover up her illegal financial crimes!
Arthur: If you had gone through with that wedding today, her legal troubles would have attached directly to your corporate assets.
Ethan: She was trying to drag my family firm down into the mud with her!
Arthur: The District Attorney has added three counts of wire fraud and grand larceny to her existing assault charges.
Ethan: What about Chloe? Was she involved in the embezzlement scheme?
Arthur: We found text messages on Victoria's phone showing Chloe was fully aware of the missing charity funds.
Ethan: So she wasn't marrying me out of love. She was marrying me for my financial protection.
Arthur: Exactly. She needed your legal immunity and capital to stay out of debt.
Ethan leaned back in his leather chair, running a hand through his grey hair as he let out a long breath.
Ethan: I was so blind, Arthur. I was so focused on expanding my company that I almost let criminals destroy my mother's legacy.
Arthur: Don't blame yourself, Ethan. Manipulative people are experts at hiding their true intentions behind expensive clothes and polite smiles.
Ethan: If Daisy hadn't stopped Victoria that morning, I might have signed those merger documents before realizing the truth.
Arthur: That young lady saved your business as well as your mother's life.
Ethan: I am going to make sure she is rewarded properly for her honesty and courage.
Arthur: The District Attorney will need Daisy to testify at the preliminary hearing next month. Is she prepared for that?
Ethan: I will speak to her today, but I know Daisy won't back down. She has more courage than anyone I know.
Arthur: Excellent. Here are the restraining order documents signed by the state judge. Neither Victoria nor Chloe can come within five hundred yards of this estate or your mother.
Ethan: Perfect. Thank you for your fast work, Arthur.
Arthur shook Ethan's hand firmly before packing his papers back into his briefcase and exiting the study.
Ethan picked up the restraining order documents and walked out into the sunlit garden behind the estate.
There, he found Daisy sitting beside Eleanor's wheelchair under the shade of a large oak tree, reading a book out loud to her.
Eleanor was smiling brightly, a soft breeze rustling the pages of the book as she listened quietly.
Ethan: Mind if I join you ladies for a moment?
Eleanor: Come sit down, Ethan! Daisy was just reading me a wonderful historical novel.
Ethan: I brought some news from Arthur regarding Victoria and Chloe.
Daisy stood up, stepping back politely to give them space.
Daisy: Should I head inside while you discuss this, Mr. Ethan?
Ethan: No, Daisy. I want you to sit right here with us. You deserve to hear every detail.