All Chapters of The Goddess of Divorce Made Me His Boss : Chapter 131 - Chapter 140

Richmond POVI sat in my private conference room at Fernandez Real Estate at five in the morning, surrounded by three of the most expensive private investigators in California and enough evidence to bring down a criminal empire. What we had discovered about Elena Westbrook over the past seventy-two hours was far worse than I had ever imagined."Mr. Fernandez, Elena Westbrook has been systematically destroying business rivals for at least eight years," Sarah Chen reported, pointing to a detailed timeline she had created. "We've identified seven other cases where successful businesspeople suddenly faced federal charges that ruined their reputations and careers.""What happened to those people?" I asked, though I was dreading the answer."Three committed suicide after losing everything. Two died in suspicious accidents while under federal investigation. One disappeared completely and was never found. Only one survived the charges and was eventually cleared, but his business never recover

Tracy POVI sat in the federal courthouse witness box with my hands trembling so violently that I had to clasp them together to keep them still. The courtroom was packed with reporters, spectators, and jurors who were all staring at me, waiting for me to repeat the lies I had told federal investigators about Vanya confessing to money laundering."Ms. Martinez, you were the defendant's best friend for over ten years, is that correct?" the prosecutor asked, his voice confident as he prepared to use my testimony to destroy Vanya's life."Yes," I answered quietly, my voice barely audible in the large courtroom."And during that friendship, did Ms. Reed ever discuss her business activities with you?"I looked across the courtroom at Vanya, who was sitting at the defendant's table in her navy blue suit, looking dignified despite facing thirty years in prison for crimes she had never committed. Our eyes met for a moment, and I saw something I didn't expect - not hatred or anger, but sadness

Elena POVI stood in my penthouse apartment at four in the morning, frantically shoving cash, jewelry, and falsified documents into three leather suitcases while watching news coverage of Bernard's testimony on my laptop. Every channel was showing the same devastating footage of my former co-conspirator confessing to our entire scheme in federal court."Businessman admits to conspiracy in framing jewelry executive," the news anchor announced. "Bernard Fredrick testified that Elena Westbrook masterminded an elaborate plan to frame Vanya Reed for money laundering she never committed."I slammed the laptop shut and grabbed my phone to call James Sullivan, my private investigator."Elena, where the hell are you?" James said immediately when he answered. "Federal agents have been at my office asking questions about our work together. You need to get out of Sacramento immediately.""I'm leaving for the airport in twenty minutes," I said, zipping up the last suitcase. "My flight to Switzerl

Richmond POVI stood outside Chez Laurent, the same restaurant where Vanya and I had shared our first lunch together months ago, checking my watch for the fifth time in ten minutes. She had agreed to meet me for dinner to discuss our relationship honestly, but I was terrified that this conversation would be the end of any chance we had together.The past week had been a whirlwind of media coverage about Elena's arrest and Vanya's vindication. Every news outlet in California was calling her story inspirational, and Goddess Jewelry had become a symbol of resilience and justice. But through it all, I had kept my distance, giving her space to process everything that had happened.Now, finally, we were going to have the honest conversation we should have had months ago.When Vanya arrived, she looked stunning in a simple black dress that showed off the confidence and strength she had gained through surviving Elena's conspiracy. But I could see wariness in her eyes, a carefulness that hadn'

Bernard POVI sat in my cell at Sacramento Federal Prison wearing an orange jumpsuit and staring at a blank piece of paper, trying to find the right words for my fifteenth letter of apology to Vanya. The previous fourteen letters had been returned unopened, but I kept writing them anyway, hoping that someday she might be ready to hear what I needed to say."Fredrick, you have a visitor," the guard announced, unlocking my cell door.I followed him to the visitor room where my court-appointed lawyer, Jennifer Walsh, was waiting with a folder full of legal documents."Bernard, I have news about your sentencing," she said as I sat down across from her at the metal table. "The judge has accepted the plea agreement. You'll serve eight years in federal prison with possibility of parole after five years for good behavior."Eight years. It sounded like a lifetime, but I knew I was getting off easy compared to what I deserved."What about Elena?" I asked."Life without parole after pleading gui