Adrian finally smiled.
“Your company has not been yours for months,” he said. “And I did not buy it for the factories. I bought it for Claire’s logistics platform, the one your daughter claimed she created.”
Vanessa’s mouth opened.
Adrian continued. “Independent code analysis confirms Claire authored every original module. Your version includes copied signatures, altered timestamps, and licensing violations.”
“That proves nothing,” Vanessa whispered.
“It proves enough for the civil complaint filed yesterday,” Samuel said. “And enough for the software fraud referral delivered to federal investigators.”
My mother turned on me. “How could you do this to your sister?”
I met her eyes. “The same way she did it to me. Carefully. Except I kept records.”
Vanessa lunged, but security stepped between us.
My father’s voice dropped. “Name your price.”
I glanced at Adrian. He nodded once.
“I already did,” I said. “The truth, in front of everyone you invited to watch me be humiliated.”
The trap had closed before they even understood they were inside it.
