Chapter 84 Saints and Monsters
That afternoon, against Patricia’s advice, they held a press conference.
Ariella stood at a podium with Aiden beside her, Elena mercifully with an FBI-vetted babysitter offsite. Fifty cameras. A hundred reporters and the whole world watching.
“My name is Ariella Hayes Frost,” she began, Her voice shook but held. “Seven years ago, my brother Ethan was murdered. We were told it was a drunk driver, that it was an accident, but it was an execution. Ordered by people who thought they were above the law.”
The crowd was silent. Listening.
“For years, I lived with grief and guilt, thinking I could have prevented his death. Now I know the truth. Ethan died because he witnessed something he shouldn’t have. Because powerful people decided his life was worth less than their secrets.”
She looked directly at the cameras.
“Victoria Frost murdered at least seventeen people, Maybe more. She did it to protect an embezzlement network that stole hundreds of millions of dollars. She did it because she believed wealth made her untouchable, and for thirty years, she was right.”
Ariella’s hands gripped the podium.
“But not anymore. We have evidence, We have testimony, We have justice, And we will not stop until everyone responsible…everyone who helped her, protected her, profited from her crimes faces consequences.”
A reporter shouted a question. “What about your husband’s father? Richard Frost was part of the embezzlement…”
“Richard Frost was a criminal,” Aiden said, stepping forward. “He embezzled, He lied, He manipulated people, including me. But when he realized what Victoria was capable of…when he saw how many people she was willing to kill, he tried to stop her. That doesn’t excuse his crimes. But it explains why he spent his final months building a case against the network.”
“Are you saying he was a hero?”
“I’m saying he was complicated and Guilty of some things yet Innocent of others. And ultimately killed by the same cancer that kills everyone, the cancer of believing you can control monsters.”
Another question came flying immediately “What happens to Frost Industries?”
“I’m taking over as CEO,” Aiden said. “Effective immediately. We’re cooperating fully with investigators. Every account will be audited. Every questionable transaction will be reviewed. Anyone who helped Victoria will be fired and prosecuted. We’re rebuilding this company on transparency and accountability, Even if it costs us everything.”
“And if it bankrupts the company?”
“Then it bankrupts, Some things are worth more than money.”
The questions came faster. About the trial, About Victoria’s lawyers claiming deepfake, About whether they feared for their lives.
“Yes,” Ariella said simply. “We fear for our lives, We fear for our daughter, We fear that even with Victoria in custody, her network will retaliate. But we’re doing this anyway. Because somebody has to. Because Ethan and Catherine and Sophia and fourteen other people deserved better than to be footnotes in a billionaire’s criminal empire.”
She stepped back from the podium. Aiden took her hand.
“One last thing,” he said. “To anyone watching who helped Victoria, Who took her money, Who followed her orders, You have forty-eight hours to come forward. Cooperate with investigators and we’ll advocate for reduced charges. After that?” His smile was sharp. “We’re coming for you. All of you. And we don’t forgive.”
They walked off the stage to shouting reporters and flashing cameras.
Patricia met them backstage. “That was…that was not what we discussed…”
“It was the truth,” Ariella said. “We’re done with spin.”
“The truth doesn’t always play well in court…”
“Then we’ll learn to make it play.” Aiden’s jaw was set. “We’re not politicians and PR machines, We’re two people who watched our families destroy each other and decided to end the cycle. That’s the story. Take it or leave it.”
Patricia stared at them. Then slowly smiled. “The internet is going to eat this up. You just became the most compelling story in America.”
“Great,” Ariella muttered. “Always wanted to be famous for family trauma.”
But as they left the building, protected by FBI agents, she saw something that made her stop.
Across the street. A small group of people holding signs.
Justice for Ethan
Catherine Frost Deserved Better
Make Billionaires Pay
They were Regular people, not reporters. Just people who’d been watching. Who cared.
One woman, maybe in her forty with a kind face caught Ariella’s eye and Mouthed: Thank you.
Ariella nodded. Feeling something crack in her chest.
Maybe this mattered. Maybe their pain, their fight, their refusal to stay silent…maybe it actually mattered to more than just them.
“Come on,” Aiden said gently. “Let’s go get our daughter.”
They climbed into the FBI vehicle and drove through the crowd of cameras and curious onlookers.
And somewhere in a federal detention center, Victoria Frost watched the press conference on a prison TV and smiled.
She had forty-eight hours to activate her contingency plan.
And she’d been planning this contingency for thirty years.