Chapter 7 - The Unmasking at the Town HallAt two o'clock that afternoon, the Pine Ridge Town Hall was packed to maximum capacity with local citizens, reporters, and corporate investors gathered for the townâs annual land development summit.
Richard Vance marched through the heavy brass doors, flanked by his two personal lawyers, his face contorted in a mask of furious arrogance.
Beside him walked Sarah, looking pale, nervous, and utterly miserable.
Standing at the front podium, wearing a simple tailored jacket over dark jeans, her hair tied back neatly, her posture straight as iron, was Emma.
Beside her stood Thomas Sterling, her grandfatherâs estate attorney, alongside two senior investigators from the State Attorney Generalâs Financial Crimes Bureau.
Richard pushed his way to the front aisle, pointing a trembling, enraged finger at Emma.
âEmma!â Richard roared, his voice echoing off the vaulted ceiling. âStop this childish circus immediately! You stole private family documents from your motherâs house! You are a mentally unstable runaway!â
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Emma looked at her stepfather. She didn't flinch. She didn't raise her voice. She simply adjusted the microphone.
âI didn't steal anything from your house, Richard,â Emma spoke, her voice clear, calm, and carrying to every news camera in the room. âI found the truth inside the walls of my grandfatherâs cabin.â
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