Chapter 9 - The Total Collapse
The walk down the center aisle was like a royal progression.
Heads turned, whispers erupted into an unstoppable roar of outrage against Victoria, and people began to stand out of respect.
The senator’s wife who had praised Victoria moments ago now looked at the stage with absolute disgust.
“She hit a woman in a wheelchair,” an elderly billionaire murmured loudly.
“Vile. Absolutely vile.”
Daniel stopped at the base of the stage, looking up at Victoria, who was clutching the podium for support.
Her emerald gown, which had looked so regal minutes ago, now looked like a costume on a disgraced actress.
“You ruined me,” Victoria choked out, her voice cracking as tears of pure rage ruined her makeup.
“You ruined yourself, Victoria,” Daniel said, his voice easily carrying through the hushed hall.
“You believed that your money gave you the right to strip away the dignity of the weak.”
“You believed that a girl working an honest job had no voice, and that my mother had no defense.”
Suddenly, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the side entrances of the auditorium.
Six uniformed police officers, accompanied by two district attorneys, marched straight toward the stage.
The lead detective held up a signed warrant.
“Victoria Ashford?” the detective announced in a loud, authoritative voice.
Victoria’s knees buckled, and she grabbed the wooden edges of the podium to prevent herself from falling.
“What is this?” she gasped.
“You are under arrest for felony assault on an elderly person, false reporting of a crime, and witness tampering,” the detective stated.
“Step down from the stage immediately.”
“Richard! Richard, do something!” Victoria shrieked, looking frantically into the crowd for her husband.
Richard Ashford slowly stood up from his seat in the orchestra section.
He looked at his wife with cold, dead eyes.
“I just signed the divorce papers with my attorney, Victoria,” Richard said, loud enough for twenty people to hear.
“I am cooperating fully with the federal prosecutors.”
“You destroyed our family, and I will not go to prison for your disgusting arrogance.”
Victoria let out a sound like a wounded animal, a high-pitched wail of total and complete defeat.
The police officers walked up the stage steps, took her by both arms, and clicked cold steel handcuffs around her wrists.
The diamond bracelets on her wrists clinked against the metal cuffs.
As they escorted her down the stairs, she was forced to walk directly past Eleanor Bennett’s wheelchair.
Eleanor looked up at her, without malice, without hatred, but with deep, profound pity.
“You had everything in this world, Victoria,” Eleanor said softly.
“Except a heart.”
Victoria tried to pull away, but the officers kept moving her forward.
As she was led down the center aisle, the elite members of society deliberately turned their backs on her.
Cameras from the media flashed incessantly, capturing the untouchable queen of high society being dragged out in irons.
The master of ceremonies slowly walked back onto the stage, visibly shaken by the spectacle.
He looked at Daniel Bennett, who nodded once.
The host cleared his throat into the microphone.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” the host announced, his voice trembling slightly.
“Tonight’s recipient of the Community Valor and Humanity Award is not on this stage.”
“She is standing among us.”
May you like
The host pointed directly toward Maya Collins.
“Miss Maya Collins, please join us on stage.”
