Chapter 6 - The Uninvited Guest
A collective murmur rippled through the high-society crowd as Julian led Clara directly toward the main stage at the front of the ballroom.
Eleanor’s face turned a violent shade of purple. She stepped forward, blocking their path near the stage steps.
"Julian!" Eleanor hissed, her voice trembling with rage. "Are you insane? You bring a hired nanny to the most prestigious charity event of the fiscal year?"
"Clara is not my nanny tonight, Eleanor," Julian replied, his voice calm and resonant, carrying easily to the nearby guests. "She is my guest of honor."
Victoria rushed up beside her aunt, her eyes wild with humiliation. "Julian, make her leave! This is my event! I organized this foundation!"
"You organized nothing, Victoria," Julian said coldly. "The foundation records show that eighty percent of the charity funds allocated for the children's hospital were diverted into your personal holding firm over the past eighteen months."
Several journalists near the front row immediately raised their cameras, flashes popping in rapid succession.
Eleanor stepped between the cameras and Julian, her posture stiffening. "You dare make baseless accusations in public? I will have my legal team pull the Sterling credit line before the clock strikes ten!"
"You can try, Aunt Eleanor," Julian said smoothly, pulling a white document folder from inside his tuxedo jacket.
He didn't hand it to Eleanor. He handed it directly to a man standing in the second row—District Attorney Thomas Vance, Eleanor’s estranged younger brother.
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"What is that?" Eleanor whispered, her confidence finally faltering.
"That," Thomas Vance said, opening the folder and scanning the stamped state seals inside, "is a federal warrant for wire fraud and tax evasion issued against the Vance Syndicate forty minutes ago."
