Chapter 7 - THE UNIQUE CUFFLINK
“Drop the weapon! Police! Drop the weapon now!”
The glass doors blew open completely.
Four Chicago police officers, wearing tactical vests, stormed into the executive office, their weapons drawn and laser sights painted directly on Edward’s chest.
The overnight security guards downstairs had heard every word of Edward’s maniacal confession through the building's intercom system.
Edward froze.
The sheer arrogance that had fueled him for thirty years evaporated in a single second.
He looked at the police, then at the gun in his hand, and finally at me.
He slowly lowered the weapon, dropping it onto the thick carpet.
Two officers slammed him against the mahogany desk, roughly pulling his arms behind his back and snapping heavy steel handcuffs around his wrists.
“Edward Lancaster, you are under arrest for attempted murder, armed assault, and corporate fraud,” the lead officer barked, reciting his rights as Edward struggled helplessly.
Emma ran from behind the sofa, burying her face in my waist, sobbing uncontrollably.
I held her tight, kissing her hair, my legs shaking so badly I thought I was going to collapse.
We were safe.
It was over.
Olivia stood by the window, watching the man who had destroyed her family finally get his due. She didn't look triumphant. She just looked incredibly tired.
An officer approached me gently.
“Ma'am, are you Catherine Lancaster?”
I nodded, wiping tears from my face. “Yes. He… he was going to kill us.”
“You’re safe now, ma'am. Paramedics are on their way up to check on you and your daughter.”
The officer took a step back, pulling a small notepad from his pocket.
“However, Mrs. Lancaster, I need to ask you to turn around and place your hands behind your back.”
I stared at him, confused.
“What? Why?”
The officer’s expression hardened into professional detachment.
“We received a sworn affidavit and physical evidence from a whistleblower within your accounting department three hours ago. You are under arrest for the embezzlement of twelve million dollars from Lancaster Grand Hotels.”
The room went dead silent.
Even Edward stopped struggling, looking back at me with genuine shock.
“What are you talking about?” I demanded, panic rising in my chest. “I didn't embezzle anything! He did!”
“We have offshore bank accounts in your name, Mrs. Lancaster. Wire transfers authorized by your personal executive terminal. And a signed confession notarized by a Sarah Jennings.”
Sarah.
Edward hadn't blackmailed my sister to forge the asset transfer to Olivia.
He had blackmailed her to forge a confession framing me for his financial crimes, planning to use it as leverage in the divorce.
But someone had submitted it to the police tonight.
I looked wildly at Edward. “Did you do this?”
Edward shook his head, looking just as bewildered.
I turned to Olivia.
She was staring at the floor, refusing to meet my eyes.
She had submitted it.
She had found Edward’s blackmail file on me and sent it to the police to ensure both of us went down. To her, I wasn't just a victim; I was the woman who had lived a life of luxury funded by her father’s stolen money.
“Mom!” Emma screamed as the officer gently but firmly turned me around, placing cold steel cuffs on my wrists.
“It’s okay, Emma!” I cried out, struggling to stay calm for her. “It’s a mistake! Call Marcus! Call Mr. Thorne!”
As the officer led me toward the door, he reached up to adjust his tactical vest.
His uniform sleeve hiked up just an inch.
But it was enough for me to see his wrist.
He was wearing a custom silver cufflink.
It was shaped like a tiny, intricate hotel.
It was the exact same charm that had been on my lost bracelet. The bracelet Olivia had stolen.
I froze, planting my feet into the carpet.
“Where did you get that cufflink?” I demanded, staring at the officer.
He ignored me, pushing me forward. “Keep moving, ma'am.”
“He’s with her!” I screamed to the other officers. “Look at his wrist! He’s connected to Olivia!”
The lead officer frowned, stepping in front of us.
“Officer Davies, what is she talking about?”
Davies cursed under his breath.
Before anyone could react, Davies shoved me hard into the lead officer, knocking them both to the floor.
Davies drew his sidearm, but not at Edward.
He aimed it directly at Olivia.
“You promised we would get the money tonight!” Davies yelled at her.
Olivia backed against the glass window. “Put the gun down, Mark! The plan failed! He caught me!”
“I didn't spend three years helping you hack their servers and forge documents just to walk away empty-handed!”
Davies wasn't a real cop.
He was a private fixer. Olivia’s accomplice.
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And he was furious.
He fired.
