Chapter 4 - The Eviction
When Gwen’s taxi pulled up to the security gates of the Paradise Valley estate, she found the wrought-iron gates wide open. Two patrol cruisers were parked along the circular driveway, their amber lights casting long shadows across the manicured palms.
Christian stood on the manicured lawn, looking like a man whose world had collapsed into a sinkhole. Beside him were three large cardboard boxes and two suitcases.
A sharp-featured woman in an immaculate charcoal pantsuit stood near the front door, holding a clipboard. It was Evelyn Cross.
“What is the meaning of this?” Gwen roared, throwing twenty dollars at the taxi driver and stumbling out of the cab. “Police! Officers, arrest that woman! She’s trespassing on my family’s property!”
One of the officers stepped forward, his hand resting casually on his utility belt. “Ma’am, are you Gwen Vance?”
“Yes, I am the lady of this house!”
“No, ma’am, you’re not,” the officer said evenly. “This property is held solely under the Sienna Thorne-Vance Revocable Trust. We are executing an emergency protective order granted by the Maricopa County Superior Court. You and your son have been served with an immediate eviction and exclusion order based on corroborated evidence of felony domestic battery.”
Gwen felt the blood drain from her face. “Battery? What battery? I am an innocent woman! She attacked me!”
Evelyn Cross stepped forward, a cold, predatory smile gracing her lips. “The surveillance footage from the living room has already been reviewed by the magistrate, Mrs. Vance. The footage shows you striking Sienna with enough force to cause lacerations and structural dental trauma. It also records you explicitly extorting thirty thousand dollars while threatening domestic retaliation. The court took less than ten minutes to grant the protective order.”
“Christian!” Gwen screamed, turning to her son. “Do something! Call your lawyer! Tell them she can’t throw us out of our home!”
“With what lawyer, Mom?” Christian yelled, his voice cracking with hysteria. His composure was completely broken. “I called Mark! He wants a ten-thousand-dollar retainer! I don't have ten dollars! Every account we use is tied to her corporate treasury! Even the lease on my BMW is registered under Thorne International Logistics!”
As if summoned by his words, a flatbed tow truck pulled smoothly into the circular driveway.
Two men jumped down, backed the truck up toward Christian’s pristine silver BMW M8, and began hooking heavy steel chains to the front axle.
“Hey! What are you doing to my car? Stop!” Christian lunged toward the tow truck, but the second police officer immediately barred his path with an outstretched arm.
“Step back, sir,” the officer warned. “The vehicle registration belongs to Thorne International. The corporate fleet manager reported the vehicle retrieved under breach of contract. Do not interfere with lawful repossession.”
Christian watched in paralyzed disbelief as his prized possession—the symbol of the wealthy, effortless lifestyle he projected to his colleagues—was hoisted into the air and secured to the flatbed.
“You have fifteen minutes to gather your remaining personal clothing from those boxes,” Evelyn said checking her diamond wristwatch. “Any attempt to enter the main house will result in an immediate felony arrest for violating the protection order. Sienna has already hired a private security team. They will be stationed at the gates twenty-four hours a day.”
Gwen looked at the massive glass-and-stone mansion that had been her kingdom for five years. She looked at her luxury luggage dumped unceremoniously on the grass.
“She can’t do this to me,” Gwen whimpered, her arrogance finally curdling into terror. “Where are we supposed to sleep?”
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“That,” Evelyn said, clicking her pen shut, “is entirely your financial responsibility.”
***
