Chapter 4 Dozens of pairs of eyes locked onto James's suddenly crumbling frame . Shock . Disgust . And that sick kind of excitement people get when someone else's life implodes in public . Michelle finally snapped out of her stupor . All that poise and grace ? Gone . She stumbled down from the stage , mascara streaming down her face like black tears . " James ! What are you doing ?! You can't arrest him ! He's innocent ! " Alex started wailing . " Mommy ! Daddy ! " Their picture - perfect family moment had turned into a complete shitshow . Everyone was staring at the arrest . At the obvious family dynamic playing out in front of them . The whispers started immediately : * " I heard Michelle's his side piece . So that kid's gotta be ... " * * " Embezzlement ? No wonder they're loaded . Private school tuition , designer everything ... ' * " Karma's a bitch . Guys like that always get what's coming . " " The gossip hit like daggers . Michelle's face cycled through about ten different shades of mortification . Then she spotted me through the crowd . Her eyes went full psycho . " YOU ! " she shrieked . " Maya ! This is all you , isn't it ?! " She came at me like a bat out of hell . Two officers had to physically restrain her . So much for the delicate flower act . I watched her completely lose her shit and actually laughed . Not angry , Just ... pitying . Like watching a rabid animal thrash around . " The cops are just doing their job , sweetie . Yelling at me won't change anything . " I paused , letting it sink in . " Besides , all that money he embezzled over the years ? You and your kid spent plenty of it . " That hit like a slap . Every parent within earshot was nodding , putting the pieces together . She was shaking with rage now . Pointing a trembling finger at me . " You're lying ! You're making this up ! James would never- " I cut her off . " The DA will decide that . Not me . " But she wouldn't let it go . Had to keep digging that hole deeper . ** Limbhu's Second Family 2.5 % Chapter 4 " Maya , you vindictive bitch ! How does destroying him help you ?! Why tear apart two families ?! " I yanked my arm free and slapped her . Hard . The sound echoed through the suddenly silent auditorium . " That Chanel suit you're wearing ? Purchased with our joint credit card . " " That Tiffany necklace ? I have the receipt for the matching one in my jewelry box . " " Those Nikes your son's wearing ? Same ones I buy for my daughter . " With every word , Michelle got paler . The crowd got hungrier for blood . " Only one family's getting torn apart here , and it's not mine . " " Michelle , when you live off embezzled funds , eventually the feds catch up . " " Every . Single . Dollar . You spent was stolen half from me . " " Consider this your official notice : My attorneys will be filing asset recovery claims for everything . " I didn't look back at her ghostly face . Just walked out . This surprise ? It's just getting started .