After 10 years of being left out of every family reunion, holiday photo, and birthday dinner because I refused to cover for my sister, my parents had the nerve to pull up to my mansion like nothing had happened. / Chapter 6 / 19

Chapter 7 - The SubpoenaTwo days later, Amber was leaving an upscale coffee shop in Glenview when a young man in a dark suit stepped into her path on the sidewalk.

"Amber Vance?" the man asked calmly.

Amber scoffed, adjusting her designer handbag on her shoulder. "If you're looking for a promotion on the salon membership, I'm not working today—"

"You've been served," the process server said smoothly, sliding a heavy manila folder into her arms before stepping past her toward his car.

Amber stood frozen on the sidewalk, the cold autumn wind whipping her highlighted hair across her face. She opened the envelope.

Inside was a expanded civil complaint filed in the Chancery Division of the Cook County Circuit Court: Sarah Kovacs v. Amber Vance and Arthur Vance.

Her eyes scanned the bold text on the first page:

PLAINTIFF’S AMENDED COMPLAINT FOR CORPORATE CONVERSION, BANK FRAUD, AND INTIMIDATION

Notice is hereby given that Plaintiff Sarah Kovacs, represented by Sterling, Vance & Hayes, hereby enters forensic accounting exhibits A through M, detailing unauthorized transfers totaling $110,000.00...

And attached to the rear of the filing was an official subpoena commanding Amber Vance to appear for an emergency oral deposition at 9:00 AM on Friday at the law offices of Sterling, Vance & Hayes in downtown Chicago.

Amber’s phone began ringing in her purse. It was my father.

She answered with a trembling hand, her voice high and panicked. "Dad! Dad, some guy just handed me papers outside Starbuck's! It says Sarah hired a huge law firm in the city! They're forcing me to do a deposition on Friday!"

On the other end of the line, Arthur was sitting in his parked car outside his lawyer's office, staring at a separate subpoena that had just been delivered to his desk.

"I know, Amber," Arthur said, his voice flat, exhausted, and completely stripped of his usual authority. "They served me too."