Chapter 12 - Behind Bars Again
The holding cell at the downtown precinct smelled of disinfectant and stale despair, a stark contrast to the gleaming glass towers of Sterling Technologies.
Ethan sat on the metal bench, his head in his hands as the reality of his nightmare set in all over again.
The internet was having a field day once more-memes mocking 'Ferrari Fraud Ethan: Cyber Criminal Edition' were breaking records across social media.
The cell door clanged open, and a guard escorted a visitor into the sterile visitation booth separated by thick glass.
It wasn't a lawyer. It was Victor Vance, wearing an expensive tailored suit and smiling a cold, venomous smile.
Ethan stood up, pressing his hands against the glass partition. 'You framed me! You cloned my credentials!'
Victor chuckled softly, his voice transmitting clearly through the intercom speaker. 'Cloned credentials? My dear boy, you were simply convenient.'
'Why are you doing this?' Ethan demanded, fury boiling in his veins.
'Because Antoine thinks he can play god with everyone's lives,' Victor sneered. 'By destroying you, I destroy his judgment. When he falls, I take back my company.'
'He won't fall,' Ethan said with fierce conviction, surprising even himself. 'Antoine sees right through your games.'
Victor's smile faded, replaced by a flash of genuine menace. 'Enjoy your time in prison, Ethan. You'll never see daylight as a free man again.'
As Victor turned and walked away, Ethan stared after him, realizing that his survival depended entirely on whether Antoine was playing a deeper game.
That night, sitting in the dark cell, Ethan heard the heavy electronic lock click open.
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A tall figure stepped into the shadows of the precinct corridor-it wasn't a police officer; it was Antoine's head of security, accompanied by a high-powered defense attorney.
'Let's go home, Ethan,' the security chief said quietly. 'Mr. Vance's trap is about to spring right back in his face.'
