The Billionaire's Bought Bride and Instant Mom Chapter 168

Vivian

The sound of that attorney at our door made my blood freeze. Richard really had walked into a trap, and somehow I knew Aveline was pulling the strings from behind the scenes. The thought made my vision blur with rage.

But I forced myself to stay calm. I helped Richard to his feet and carefully placed his glasses back on his nose.

"You said your money laundering was foolproof, right?" I whispered. "Don't panic. Maybe they don't have real evidence. Just play it smart."

Richard nodded shakily, some color returning to his face. "Yeah... yeah, the transfer procedures were clean. Multiple layers, different jurisdictions. No direct trail."

I pushed past Monica, who was spiraling into hysterics, and headed for the door. Behind me, she was already in full self-preservation mode.

"If anything happens, don't you dare drag me into this! None of this was my idea!"

I spun around, fury finally breaking through my composure. "Shut the fuck up, you bitch!"

Monica's mouth dropped open in shock. She'd never heard me use that tone before, but before she could retaliate, I was already opening the front door.

The man standing there looked like he'd stepped out of a legal thriller—tall, impeccably dressed in a charcoal gray suit that probably cost more than our monthly expenses, with sharp eyes that seemed to catalog every detail of our panicked faces. He carried a leather briefcase thick with documents, and his presence filled our doorway with an almost predatory confidence.

"Mr. Hartwell, I presume?" He walked past me without invitation, extending a manicured hand toward Richard. "Attorney Davidson, Manhattan District Attorney's Office."

Richard forced his shaking hand into the attorney's firm grip, trying to project calm. "Please, have a seat. What can we do for you?"

Davidson settled into our best armchair, his eyes sweeping the room with casual assessment. "Charming place. Classic Victorian architecture, though showing its age. Such a shame when beautiful old homes like this get... complicated legal entanglements."

Monica bristled immediately, her voice rising. "Excuse me? This house belonged to my mother-in-law! No one has any right to take it away from us!"

Richard cleared his throat nervously, sweat beading on his forehead. "Mr. Davidson, what exactly brings you here? I've always conducted my business within legal boundaries."

The attorney stood slowly, adjusting his tie with deliberate precision. "Have you now?" His smile was razor-sharp. "Well then, let's dispense with the pleasantries. I'm here to discuss some... financial irregularities regarding Hartwell Industries with Mr. Hartwell, Mrs. Hartwell, and Miss Vivian Hartwell."

He pulled out a thick contract from his briefcase, holding it up like evidence in a courtroom. "This is your loan agreement with Mr. Blackwell, correct?"

My scalp prickled with dread, but all I could think about was Aveline orchestrating this whole nightmare from the shadows. This had her fingerprints all over it—the timing, the precision, the complete destruction of our family's last hope.

Richard nodded stiffly, his voice barely steady. "Yes. Did Mr. Blackwell send you?"

"Please don't interrupt," Davidson cut him off smoothly, his tone remaining conversational but carrying an unmistakable edge of authority. "I'm here to find the best resolution for everyone involved."

He began pacing our living room like a prosecutor addressing a jury. "First, this five-million-dollar loan agreement. The terms are quite harsh—using your company's entire assets as collateral. A very... bold business decision for someone in your financial position."

Richard shifted uncomfortably but stayed silent.

"Secondly, we've discovered that the entire loan amount has been transferred to your Cayman Islands entity, 'Hartwell Strategic Consulting.' Interesting timing—the funds cleared yesterday morning, and by evening they were already offshore."

Richard's face went ashen, but he tried to rally, his voice gaining strength from desperation. "That's all legitimate investment! International consulting expansion! I never transferred the full five million at once—that would be obvious fraud!"

Davidson's smile widened, as if he'd been waiting for exactly that defense. He pulled out a stack of bank statements, laying them across our coffee table with the precision of a dealer spreading cards.

"Of course you didn't, Mr. Hartwell. You're not that foolish. Let me walk you through your very 'busy' week." His fingers traced across the documents. "Monday: One point five million dollars in 'market research fees' to the Cayman Islands. Tuesday: Another one point five million for 'technology licensing fees.' Yesterday: The final two million for 'supply chain consulting fees.' Your business ventures are remarkably... diverse."

The room went dead silent. Even Monica had stopped her nervous pacing.

"So you see, this isn't an impulsive illegal transfer—it's a series of premeditated, continuous criminal acts. In legal terms, this constitutes 'continuing criminal enterprise,' which carries far more severe penalties than a single offense."

Monica's voice came out as a strangled whisper. "How... how did you get all of this? These are supposed to be confidential international transactions!"

Davidson's laugh was genuinely amused. "Mrs. Hartwell, Mr. Blackwell has significant influence not just with American banking institutions, but internationally as well. When someone of his caliber requests cooperation from financial institutions, they tend to be quite forthcoming."

He moved closer to Monica, his presence suddenly more intimidating. "You must be Mrs. Monica Hartwell." Another document appeared from his briefcase. "We also obtained the registration documents for that shell company—'Hartwell Strategic Consulting.' Fascinating reading. The beneficial owner and sole director is listed as Monica Hartwell. Your signature is quite elegant, Mrs. Hartwell."

Monica's legs nearly gave out, and she grabbed the back of a chair for support. "That... that has nothing to do with me! It was all Richard! That useless piece of shit set everything up! I just signed where he told me to!"