Chapter 10 - THE EVICTION NOTICE
The official eviction notice was pinned directly to the front door of the mansion.
It was printed on heavy legal cardstock,
bearing the official seal of the superior court.
Victoria’s mother,
Eleanor,
returned later that afternoon to retrieve Victoria’s personal belongings.
She stared at the eviction notice in absolute disbelief.
Marcus stood on the front porch,
blocking her entrance with a cold,
expressionless stare.
“You can't lock her out of her own home!” Eleanor shrieked,
pointing a manicured nail at Marcus’s chest.
“This house belongs to the Sterling estate!”
“Correction,
” Richard said,
stepping out onto the porch with a briefcase in hand.
“This house belongs exclusively to my cousin,
registered under her maiden name.
”
“Victoria was merely a guest with severe criminal tendencies.
”
“And guests who commit grand larceny do not get to keep their walk-in closets.
”
Richard motioned to two professional movers standing behind him.
They carried three large cardboard boxes filled with Victoria’s designer shoes,
silk dresses,
and expensive jewelry.
They dumped the boxes unceremoniously onto the front lawn right at the edge of the driveway.
“Is this a joke?” Eleanor gasped,
rushing over to the cardboard boxes as designer heels spilled out onto the grass.
“This is designer couture! You can't just treat her property like garbage!”
“We aren't treating it like garbage,
Eleanor,
” I said calmly,
stepping out onto the porch.
“We are treating it like abandoned contraband.
”
“Tell Victoria that her federal arraignment is scheduled for Tuesday morning at nine sharp.
”
“She might want to wear something simpler than a Chanel dress,
considering she’ll be trading it for an orange jumpsuit.
”
Eleanor turned to me,
her face contorted with pure,
unadulterated venom.
“You are a ruthless,
cold-blooded monster!” Eleanor screamed.
“Daniel was right about you! You never loved him!”
“You’re right,
Eleanor,
” I replied,
my voice as cold as winter ice.
“I never loved the man who stole my dreams,
embezzled my money,
and betrayed our vows.
”
“And now,
he gets to pay the full price for his choices.
”
Eleanor began shoving the designer boxes into the trunk of her Mercedes,
crying tears of frustrated rage.
May you like
We watched from the porch as she sped out of the driveway,
kicking up gravel in her wake.
