Chapter 3 - The Cold Eviction
When I arrived at the Mercer estate, the house was dark and empty. It was a beautiful, sprawling colonial home that my inheritance had paid for, yet I had always been treated like a guest inside it. Beatrice had chosen the curtains, the furniture, even the artwork, always reminding me that "a girl from your background should appreciate the Mercer standard."
I walked through the grand front door, pulling a large suitcase behind me. But I wasn't there just to pack my clothes.
I walked straight to Carter’s personal study. I pulled a specialized flash drive from my purse and plugged it into his desktop computer. Thanks to his utter lack of digital security, I had memorized his passwords months ago.
As the files began to transfer, I walked around the room, picking up items of value that belonged strictly to me—my grandfather’s antique gold watch, the family jewelry Carter had "borrowed" to display in his safe, and the legal deeds to the property.
Suddenly, the front door slammed shut downstairs. Heavy, frantic footsteps echoed up the marble staircase.
"Evelyn!" Carter shouted, his voice hoarse and wild.
He burst into the study, his hair disheveled, his expensive suit wrinkled from spending hours in a police holding cell. Behind him stood Beatrice, her face looking haggard and old without her usual layers of expensive makeup.
"You absolute psycho!" Carter screamed, pointing a trembling finger at me. "Do you have any idea what you’ve done? The police let us go on a temporary release, but the story has already leaked to the press! My investors are pulling out! Amber is having panic attacks at the hospital!"
"Good," I said calmly, not even looking up from the computer screen as the progress bar hit 95%. "She should practice having panic attacks. The prison cells can get quite claustrophobic."
Beatrice stepped forward, trying to use her old, intimidating posture. "Evelyn, stop this madness this instant! You will go down to the station, tell them you were confused, and drop the charges. We will allow you to stay in this marriage. We will even let you help raise Carter and Amber’s child since you are incapable of providing one yourself. Think of the charity! Think of our family name!"
I pulled the flash drive out of the computer and stood up. I walked over to Beatrice, stopping just inches from her face.
"Your family name is garbage, Beatrice," I said quietly, the malice in my voice making her step back in surprise. "And as for this house? You need to pack your things. Both of you."
Carter laughed nervously. "Are you insane? You can't throw us out of my family home!"
"It’s not your family home, Carter," I said, pulling the property deed from my tote bag and slapping it onto the desk. "Look at line four. The property was purchased using the Vance Trust Estate. The deed is strictly in my name. I’ve already filed an emergency eviction order this morning through the county court, citing domestic abuse and criminal endangerment. You have exactly two hours to remove your personal belongings before the sheriff arrives to change the locks."
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Carter’s face drained of color, mirroring the exact transparent gray he had displayed at the hospital. "Evelyn, please... you can't do this to me. I have nowhere to go. My accounts are frozen because of the fraud investigation!"
"Then I guess you and your pregnant mistress can share a nice, cozy motel room," I said, rolling my suitcase past them. "Oh, and Carter? I filed for divorce this morning. And I’m suing for full liquidation of all marital assets."
