Chapter 8 - VIVIENNE’S SECOND FACE
Vivienne returned to the mansion carrying legal papers.
She demanded compensation for the canceled wedding and threatened to expose Nicholas’s criminal associations.
Nicholas refused to negotiate privately.
His attorneys reviewed the claims.
During the investigation, they discovered Vivienne’s charitable foundation had received large payments from companies controlled by Victor Lang.
The payments were labeled consulting fees.
But the foundation had provided no consulting services.
Vivienne had been laundering money.
Nicholas confronted her.
“You knew about Victor’s operation.”
Vivienne’s expression hardened.
“I knew enough to understand that your empire was built on things polite society pretends not to see.”
“Did you know children were involved?”
She looked away.
Nicholas felt sick.
“You knew.”
Vivienne snapped.
“Don’t act innocent. You enjoyed the money.”
Nicholas did not deny his responsibility for the organization.
But he refused to accept that accountability meant allowing further crimes.
He turned over the evidence to federal investigators.
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Vivienne was arrested weeks later.
The canceled engagement became a minor scandal compared with what followed.
