The unstoppable vengeance of Micheal Krux.

3. Betrayal Live on Air

Chapter Three Betrayal Live on Air

Michael Krux POV

The next day, they let me shower for court, but the orange jumpsuit they gave me was one size too small on purpose.

The fabric pulled across my shoulders like it wanted to remind me I wasn’t in control anymore.

Two marshals marched me into the federal courthouse through a side door.

A bold placard carried the no camera allowed inscription, yet, the hallway was lined with reporters anyway.

Phones up and questions shouted all at once thrown at him as soon as I was in their views.

“Did you try to kill the President?”

“How much did the terrorists pay you?”

“Where’s your wife, Krux?”

I didn’t stop to answer any of their questions, I simply kept my eyes forward. The courtroom was packed.

Wall to wall suits, reporters in the back rows, three news cameras pointed at the defendant table. I scanned the gallery for friendly faces but there were none.

Then the side door opened and my family walked in. Uncle Reginald, who was my father’s younger brother, and now the acting CEO, wore a black suit and the same fake sad expression he used at funerals.

Aunt Cecilia beside him, clutching a handkerchief she would never actually use.

Beside her was Cousin Damien, their twenty-seven year old trust fund prince had his phone out, filming me like I was a zoo animal. They all sat in the front, still exercising power even at such gatherings.

The judge entered and everyone stood, only I stayed seated.

The marshals yanked me up and soon the charges were read: attempted assassination, terrorism, treason, the prosecutor asked for no bail

.

The judge agreed before my lawyer even opened his mouth.

Then came the “victim impact statements.” First up: Gabriel Luxter came out from nowhere and walked to the microphone in a charcoal suit, eyes red like he’d been crying for days.

Same height as me, same dark hair, but softer around the edges. He looked straight at me.“Michael was my best friend for seventeen years,” he said, voice cracking perfectly.

“I trusted him with my life. I trusted him with the company we built together. I never imagined he could do something this evil.”A pause.

A single tear rolled down his cheek.“I’m sorry, America. I failed you.”The gallery ate it up.

Cameras flashed.

Reginald put a hand on Gabriel’s shoulder when he sat down like a proud father. I noticed. But I didn't say anything.

Next up was Uncle Reginald. He stood, adjusted his tie, and spoke like he was giving a board meeting.

“Krux Enterprises is a family company older than this nation itself. Michael’s actions have stained three hundred years of honor, in fact, on behalf of the entire Krux bloodline, we disown him.” Uncle Reginald took a deep breath before he continued.

“He is no longer welcome in our homes, our company, or our name.” He looked right at me when he said the last part. Damien leaned over and whispered something to a reporter.

The reporter laughed. Then the doors opened again. Layla my wife walked in.White dress, sunglasses even inside, hair pulled back tight.

She looked like she was attending my funeral, not my hearing.The judge actually nodded at her.

“Mrs. Krux, you have the floor.”She walked to the microphone slowly and took off the sunglasses.

Her eyes were dry.“I married Michael because I believed in him,” she said, voice steady.

“I stood by him while he built his empire.

But I will not stand by a man who tried to murder the President. I am filing for divorce today. I want nothing that was bought with blood money.” She turned and looked at me for the first time.

“I’m sorry, Michael, It’s over.” Then she walked back and sat between Gabriel and my uncle. Gabriel put his arm along the back of her chair. The judge banged the gavel.

“Remanded to Iron Glacier until trial.

Next case.” Then the marshals grabbed my elbows.

As they dragged me past the front row I stopped right in front of my family looking at the four familiar faces with Zero warmth, yet I smiled. Small. Cold.

“Enjoy the view from the top,” I told them.

“It’s a long way down when the floor disappears.”Reginald sneered.

“You’re done, boy.”Gabriel leaned forward.

“Take care of yourself in there, buddy.”Layla wouldn’t meet my eyes.

The marshals pulled me away.Cameras flashed the whole walk out.

By the time they threw me back in the van, every network was running the same headline:

KRUX FAMILY DISOWNS TRAITOR SON WIFE FILES FOR DIVORCE.

I sat in the dark, chains rattling with every turn, and I felt the last piece of the old Michael crack off and die because of the betrayal of the people he called family.