Julian dragged Vanessa through the massive oak doors into the bright Texas daylight of the grand foyer.
Two dozen photographers and reporters, stationed outside to capture the society wedding of the year, immediately started flashing their cameras.
Reporter: Mr. Sterling! What's happening?! Is the wedding off?!
Vanessa: Turn those cameras off! Stop filming me!
Vanessa covered her face with her dirt-streaked hands, her bridal hair unraveling in messy tangles.
Julian: Take all the pictures you want. Make sure the front page shows what a child kidnapper looks like.
Richard: Julian, you are destroying our business alliance! Vance Logistics will pull every contract with your firm!
Julian: Pull them. I’ll liquidate every asset before I do business with a family of predators.
Marcus rushed out into the foyer, his phone pressed firmly against his ear.
Marcus: Julian, the Dallas Police Department just intercepted Thomas Henderson at DFW airport. He was boarding a flight to Panama.
Julian: Did they get him?
Marcus: Handcuffs on him right at the gate. And he's already singing to save his own neck.
Vanessa froze on the floor, her face draining of all color as she stared at Marcus.
Vanessa: What... what did Henderson say?
Marcus: He told the detectives that you gave him two hundred thousand in cash five years ago to pull the boy from the wreck before the paramedics arrived.
Julian: Jesus Christ... you planned this before Claire was even dead.
Vanessa: No! That's not how it happened! Julian, Henderson was the one who suggested it!
Julian: You just admitted it, Vanessa. In front of fifty witnesses and twenty live cameras.
Vanessa looked around wildly, seeing the flashing lenses and the disgusted faces of her own lifelong friends.
Vanessa: Henderson told me Claire wouldn't survive the impact! He said if the boy stayed, the estate would be tied up in trusts for twenty years!
Julian: So you stole my son so you could control the company shares through our marriage.
Vanessa: You were supposed to marry me anyway! Claire stole you from me in college! She took everything that was mine!
Leo: Mom never took anything from you! She said you were jealous because Dad loved her!
Leo stepped into the sunlight beside Julian, his small hand gripping Julian's jacket.
Vanessa: Shut up, you little rat! You were supposed to stay in that attic until the paperwork cleared!
Julian: Keep digging your grave, Vanessa. Every word is being recorded.
The distant roar of police sirens split the afternoon air, growing deafeningly loud as three squad cars screeched up the cathedral driveway.
Richard: Vanessa, not another word! I’m calling the criminal defense team right now!
Julian: Call whoever you want, Richard. No attorney in America can buy her way out of this.
Uniformed officers bounded up the wide limestone steps, their hands resting on their utility belts.
Officer Martinez: Mr. Sterling? We have a warrant regarding the Henderson abduction case.
Julian: She's right here, Officer. Take her into custody immediately.
Vanessa: Don't touch me! Julian, tell them to stop! You can't let them put me in a cage!
Officer Martinez: Hands behind your back, ma'am. Do not resist.
The harsh metallic snap of handcuffs echoed off the cathedral pillars as the officers pinned Vanessa against the marble column.
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