“You brought this on yourselves,” I said quietly.

“You treated me like a servant in my own home.”

“You insulted my family, my heritage, and my work.”

“And all the while, you were living off my grandfather’s charity,” I said.

Agent Vance turned his attention away from me.

He looked at Daniel, then nodded to two of his deputies.

“Daniel Mercer,” Vance said, “you are under arrest for bank fraud, identity theft, and embezzlement.”

The metal handcuffs clinked as they were pulled from Vance’s belt once more.

But this time, they weren’t meant for me.

Daniel stumbled backward, his hands shaking as he held them out.

“Mom, do something!” Daniel cried.

Vivian looked around the room, her eyes wide with terror as she realized none of her wealthy friends were going to help her.

The guests they had invited to witness my ruin were now whispering and taking videos on their phones.

“This is a mistake,” Vivian pleaded to the crowd. “My husband was a good man. We are the Mercers.”

“You are nobody,” I said.

The deputies grabbed Daniel’s arms and clicked the cuffs shut around his wrists.