Chapter 3 - The Twenty-Four-Hour Notice By eight-thirty, chaos had consumed the Hawthorne Estate.
Margaret's Mercedes was immobilized.
Chloe's corporate credit card was declined.
The household staff had received instructions to inventory everything belonging to Vanguard.
Daniel stood inside his office staring at the eviction notice.
“This can't be real.”
Then Margaret called me.
Her face appeared on my screen.
Her hair was disheveled.
Her expensive silk robe was stained with coffee.
“Evelyn!”
“Yes?”
“What have you done?”
“I've simply enforced the ownership agreement.”
“You're lying!”
“No.”
I leaned closer.
“Three years ago, you were drowning in debt.”
Her expression changed.
“Your husband's gambling losses nearly took this house.”
“Daniel saved us.”
“No,” I said. “I did.”
Her lips trembled.
“I bought the debt.”
She stared at me.
“I bought the house.”
Her eyes widened.
“And every car, every corporate account, every luxury expense you have enjoyed since then was financed by money you believed came from your son.”
Margaret's arrogance collapsed.
“You…”
“I acted like I owned the place because I did.”
I ended the call.
An hour later, Daniel arrived at The Obsidian.
Security escorted him upstairs.
When the elevator opened, he stared at me.
I was wearing a white suit.
No jewelry.
No wedding ring.
No fear.
“Evie…”
“Sit down.”
He didn't.
He dropped to his knees.
“I was wrong.”
“You were.”
“I love you.”
“You loved the life I gave you.”
His eyes filled with tears.
“I can change.”
“The divorce papers are already drafted.”
His face collapsed.
“And the company?”
“Being liquidated.”
“Evelyn, please.”
I slid the documents across the table.
“You told me to leave your life.”
I stood.
“So I'm leaving.”
Daniel looked at the papers.
Then at me.
Then at the guards.
For the first time, he understood.
His wife had never been dependent on him.
He had been dependent on her.
As the elevator doors closed, my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
A man's voice whispered:
“Ms. Vance, you think Daniel is your biggest problem?”
May you like
I froze.
“We know what happened three years ago.”
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