Chapter 3: The Truth Behind Emma
Chapter 3: The Truth Behind Emma
Police officers waiting outside the ballroom entered the moment Emma nodded.
Victoria backed away.
"You set me up."
Emma shook her head.
"No."
"You set yourself up the day you believed no one would question you."
Detective Laura Bennett approached with a warrant.
"Victoria Hayes, you're under arrest for fraud, embezzlement, conspiracy, and destruction of financial records."
As officers placed handcuffs on Victoria, she pointed at Emma.
"You're nothing but a cripple looking for revenge!"
The insult echoed through the ballroom.
Emma smiled gently.
"I never wanted revenge."
She slowly reached for the handles of her wheelchair.
Then, before hundreds of stunned guests...
She stood.
A few people gasped.
Others burst into applause.
Richard stared in shock.
"You... you can walk?"
Emma nodded.
"My accident damaged my spine, but after two years of rehabilitation, I regained the ability to stand and walk short distances."
She took several careful steps.
"I still use the wheelchair because it's safer during long events."
She looked directly into Victoria's eyes.
"You saw a wheelchair."
"You assumed weakness."
"That was your biggest mistake."
The detective escorted Victoria toward the exit.
Before leaving, Victoria whispered,
"You ruined my life."
Emma answered calmly,
May you like
"No."
"The truth did."
