Chapter 7: An Unexpected Ally
Chapter 7: An Unexpected Ally
The next morning, as I was packing our lives into cardboard boxes, a sleek silver Tesla pulled up outside my apartment building. A woman stepped out, wearing a sharp power suit and carrying a leather briefcase. She looked like she belonged on the cover of Forbes.
She walked up the stairs and knocked on my open door.
"Evelyn Bennett?" she asked.
"Yes?"
"I’m Clara Sterling," she said, extending a hand.
I gasped slightly. Clara Sterling was the most feared high-profile civil rights and family attorney in the Midwest. She had won landmark cases against multi-billion-dollar corporations and corrupt politicians. She was a legend.
"I saw your video," Clara said, stepping into the apartment and looking at the boxes. "And frankly, your father’s behavior disgusts me. Richard Bennett has been a bully in the Chicago legal community for decades. He thinks he’s untouchable. I’m here to tell you that he isn't."
"I can't afford you, Ms. Sterling," I said honestly. "I just lost my job, and I’m being evicted."
Clara smiled, a sharp, brilliant expression. "I don't want your money, Evelyn. I want to take down Richard Bennett. I’m taking your case pro bono. We aren't just going to defend you against the eviction—we are going to sue your parents, your brother, and your former employer for civil conspiracy, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and wrongful termination."
She walked over to Sophie and knelt down, her tone softening. "Hi, Sophie. I hear you like justice."
Sophie nodded shyly. "I want my mommy to stop crying."
May you like
"Your mommy is done crying," Clara said, standing back up and looking at me. "Pack your bags, Evelyn. I have a penthouse apartment downtown owned by my firm. It’s completely free, secure, and has twenty-four-hour security. Your father won't be able to get within a mile of you."
As we loaded the final boxes into Clara’s car, I looked back at the apartment that had been my prison of financial dependence. For the first time in thirty years, I felt a breath of fresh air. The battle lines were drawn, and for the first time, I had an army.
