Chapter 18 - THE NIGHT DARIA FELL

Daria Kincaid was arrested at 9:12 a.m.

By noon, the charges filled two pages.

Kidnapping.

Conspiracy.

Attempted murder.

Bribery.

Fraud.

Obstruction.

False imprisonment.

Witness tampering.

And the murder of Thomas Kincaid.

News vans surrounded the courthouse.

For decades, Daria had entered rooms as if the world belonged to her.

Now she entered in handcuffs.

She still tried to control the moment.

She wore a tailored black suit.

Her hair was perfect.

She looked directly at the cameras.

Then Catherine arrived.

Alive.

Holding Penelope.

The crowd went silent.

Reporters shouted.

Daria’s face finally broke.

Catherine walked past her without saying a word.

Inside court, Dr. Weston accepted a plea agreement.

He admitted falsifying Catherine’s dental identification.

The former coroner confessed to accepting money.

Elise Harrow was arrested near the Canadian border.

Victor Hale agreed to testify.

Nolan did too.

One by one, the people Daria had purchased began selling her back.

Then the prosecutor played my father’s recording.

“What did you put in my drink?”

Daria closed her eyes.

“Something that will look like your heart finally gave up.”

The judge denied bail.

Daria stood suddenly.

“This is my company!”

The judge looked over his glasses.

“No, Mrs. Kincaid. This is my courtroom.”

Even I almost smiled.

Outside, Catherine took my hand.

“Is it over?”

“No.”

The criminal case would take months.

Maybe years.

But the fear was over.

That evening, the Kincaid board met again.

Marcus attended by video.

Elena sat in the back.

The final will was certified.

Daria’s voting rights were suspended.

The family trust activated.

And Penelope became the youngest beneficiary in company history.

Then Evelyn leaned toward me.

“There’s one final document.”

“What?”

She placed an envelope on the table.

“Thomas left instructions for what should happen if Daria was ever removed.”

I opened it.

The first line made me laugh through tears.

Samuel,

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Sell the mansion.

I never liked the damn place.