Chapter 39 - The Fall of the Replica
The courtroom erupted into total chaos. Reporters scrambled to draft emergency headlines as the judge’s gavel slammed down repeatedly like thunder.
"Order! Order in this court!" Judge Miller bellowed.
Vivian stood up slowly from her seat, her eyes wild, her hands shaking violently as she stared at the bright green 100% match on the screen. "No... no! Victoria said the lab logs were deleted! She swore the records were gone!"
"Victoria Harrington was arrested three days ago, Vivian," I said, stepping up to the petitioner's table, standing inches away from the woman who had tried to steal my life. "She gave the federal prosecutors your offshore account records in exchange for a plea deal."
The lead federal prosecutor stepped forward, holding a federal arrest warrant. "Vivian Vance, you are under arrest for federal surrogacy fraud, evidence tampering, attempted murder in international jurisdiction, and corporate conspiracy."
Two armed federal marshals moved in, grabbing Vivian’s arms, clicking heavy steel handcuffs over her wrists.
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Vivian looked at me, her face contorted in bitter, weeping rage. "I was supposed to have your life, Clara! I was supposed to be the Chairwoman! I was supposed to have Ethan!"
"You tried to build a life out of lies and stolen pieces, Vivian," I said softly, looking her dead in the eye with complete pity and total strength. "A family isn't something you can steal. It’s something you earn."
