Chapter 6 - The Legal Siege
The courtroom was a sterile, cold environment, a sharp departure from the warmth of the life Frank had grown accustomed to stealing. The walls seemed to close in as the proceedings began. It was no longer about family disagreements or marriage woes; it was a full-scale legal war.
Frank, desperate and increasingly erratic, had hired a high-priced attorney who specialized in "smear tactics." They tried to argue that Nicholas had essentially "trapped" them by remaining silent about his wealth, leading them to believe they were entitled to the company's resources.
"My client believed he was working for a struggling handyman," the lawyer argued, sweating under the judge’s icy stare. "He managed the company, he grew the company—he thought he was helping his son-in-law build a dream!"
Nicholas’s legal team didn't need to shout. They simply presented the digital paper trail. They showed the judge thousands of invoices for phantom services—jobs that were billed to Apex but never performed, with the funds funneled directly into accounts held by Frank, his sons, and even Isabella. The documents showed clear, intentional signatures.
The courtroom murmured as the evidence hit the screens. The "handyman" had been the architect of his own company’s success, and he had the forensic audit to prove that the family hadn't been "helping"—they had been bleeding him dry.
As the day dragged on, the cracks in the family’s unity began to widen. Mark, Frank’s eldest son, started whispering to his lawyer. He wasn't going to go down for his father’s schemes. When he was called to the stand, he cracked.
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"It was his idea!" Mark shouted, pointing at Frank. "He told us Nicholas was too stupid to check the books! He said we were 'taxing' the idiot for having a better life than us!"
The courtroom erupted. Frank went white, his hands trembling violently. Isabella, sitting at the defense table, looked like a statue. She realized then that there was no "family loyalty" to be found when the money ran out.
