Chapter 13 - The Downfall of a Billionaire
Armed with Yuri’s testimony and the master keys to Viktor Petrov’s encrypted Swiss banking servers, federal law enforcement moved with breathtaking, unstoppable speed.
Within seventy-two hours, Interpol red notices were issued across twelve European nations. Petrov’s private coastal estate in British Columbia was raided at dawn by a joint tactical task force of the RCMP and the FBI, seizing his fleet of yachts, private aircraft, and multi-million-dollar art collections.
Petrov was caught attempting to board a private freighter bound for international waters, still wearing his expensive cashmere suit, his face plastered across every major news network worldwide as the mastermind behind an international money-laundering and extortion syndicate.
Back in Oregon, the fallout hit Marcus and Rachel Vance like a tidal wave of reality.
Still rotting in their respective holding cells, waiting for bail that would never come and lawyers who had abandoned them, they watched the prison television news broadcast in the common room.
The anchor’s voice echoed off the concrete walls: *‘…and authorities confirm that the multi-million-dollar criminal syndicate led by billionaire fugitive Viktor Petrov has been completely dismantled, largely due to intelligence provided by local rancher Eleanor Vance and federal investigators…’*
Marcus stared at the television screen in absolute, paralyzing disbelief. The man he had hitched his wagon to, the corporate titan he had trusted with his future, was gone—paraded in handcuffs before the world.
“He… he used us,” Marcus whispered, sinking slowly onto the plastic bench, clutching his head in his hands. “We threw everything away for nothing.”
Rachel didn't cry anymore. She sat in the corner of the room, staring blankly at the floor, realizing with terrifying clarity that her mother hadn't stolen her future at all—she had simply refused to let her children burn down the family legacy to fuel their own greed.
A guard walked down the cell block, stopping in front of Marcus’s door with a clipboard.
“Vance, Marcus. You have a legal notification waiting at the intake desk,” the guard grunted.
Marcus stood up slowly, dragging his feet as he walked to the visitation booth. He picked up the phone, expecting another piece of bad news.
It was Harrison Vance on the other side.
“Hello, Marcus,” Harrison’s voice sounded calm, almost indifferent.
“What do you want, Harrison?” Marcus muttered bitterly.
“Just keeping you updated on the civil restitution settlement,” Harrison replied smoothly. “Your mother has officially filed the final paperwork for complete financial and legal severance. Your debts have been settled by liquidating your remaining assets, leaving your net worth at exactly zero dollars and zero cents.”
“You can’t do that! She’s my mother!” Marcus shouted into the receiver.
May you like
“She was your mother, Marcus,” Harrison corrected him coldly. “Now, you’re just another convicted felon doing time in county lockup. Enjoy your twenty years.”
The line went dead with a sharp click.
