PART 2
* * *
My father's hand gripped the edge of the podium.
"Ava, what is this?"
"You know exactly what this is," I said.
He turned to the donors.
"This is a misunderstanding.
My daughter is clearly confused—"
"Reverend Whitmore." General Pierce's voice cut through the room like a blade.
"I suggest you sit down."
The room went still.
Blake grabbed Marissa's arm.
"We need to leave.
Now."
"You're not going anywhere," one of the federal agents said, stepping between Blake and the door.
My mother stood up slowly.
"Ava, how could you do this to your own family?"
"How could you let Blake steal from your own foundation for years?"
"I didn't know anything about—"
"Mom." I looked at her.
"You signed the transfer forms yourself."
Her face crumbled.
Blake lunged toward the microphone.
"She's lying!
This is a setup!
You can't prove anything—"
The screen behind me changed.
A new document appeared.
A recorded phone call.
Blake's own voice filled the ballroom.
"Charles doesn't need to know.
The old man trusts me.
By the time anyone checks the accounts, the money will be gone."
My father's knees buckled.
Then Marissa whispered something I never expected.
"Ava…
I have proof too."
What did Marissa know?
Click the link below to read the full story.
* * *
PART 3
* * *
Every head in the ballroom turned toward Marissa.
Blake's grip on her arm tightened.
"Marissa, don't."
She pulled away from him.
For the first time in years, I saw my sister's hands shake — but not from fear.
"Let go of me, Blake."
"Not here.
Not like this."
"You lost the right to tell me what to do the moment you used my father's name to steal from people who trusted him."
She reached into her purse and pulled out a USB drive.
She held it up so the entire room could see.
"Sixteen months of recordings," she said.
"Every phone call.
Every meeting.
Every time you told me it was 'just a temporary loan' from the foundation."
Blake's face twisted.
"You're going to regret this."
"Am I?" She set the USB drive on the edge of the stage.
"I've been regretting marrying you for three years.
At least now I'm doing something about it."
General Pierce nodded to one of the agents.
He picked up the USB drive and slipped it into an evidence bag.
My father rose from his chair.