Chapter 2 - The Fall of the Dream Estate
By 6:30 AM, the morning sun broke over the horizon, painting the sky in shades of amber and violent crimson.
Inside the sprawling sales office of Crestview Estates, my parents—Eleanor and Richard Hart-Vane—were sitting on plush velvet sofas, wearing tailored morning attire. They had invited a photographer to capture the exact moment they signed the final deed handover for their gated luxury manor.
A tray of vintage champagne sat on the marble coffee table beside them.
"This is what real success looks like, Richard," my mother gloated, smoothing down her designer cardigan. "After all these years, we finally have the address we deserve."
"We worked hard for this, Eleanor," my father replied grandly, completely ignoring the fact that their entire down payment and mortgage eligibility rested entirely on my personal credit standing and secondary guarantee.
The heavy glass door opened, but it wasn't the notary public carrying the celebratory documents. It was Thomas Sterling, the lead senior partner of the developer’s legal team, accompanied by two armed private security guards.
"Mr. and Mrs. Vane," Sterling said coldly, without offering a handshake. "I’m afraid there has been a severe development. Your transaction is canceled."
My mother chuckled nervously. "Is this a joke? We are scheduled to close in thirty minutes! Grant Hart is my son-in-law—"
"Grant Hart’s company is currently under federal financial hold," Sterling cut in sharply. "And more importantly, five minutes ago, First Commercial Bank officially withdrew the irrevocable credit guarantee executed by attorney Evelyn Hart. Without her personal guarantee, your credit assessment drops below our absolute minimum threshold. Furthermore, because your initial earnest money deposit of $150,000 was wired from a secondary account currently under an active legal freeze, it has been sequestered by federal compliance."
My father stood up so fast his chair nearly tipped over. "That's impossible! Evelyn would never do that! She’s our daughter!"
"Your daughter just did," Sterling said coldly. "Security will escort you off the premises immediately. If you attempt to re-enter the property, you will be arrested for trespassing."
Panicked, my mother grabbed her phone with trembling hands and dialed my number. When it went straight to my legal team’s automated answering service, she frantically dialed Grant.
Grant answered on the first ring. His voice was laced with pure panic and background sirens.
"Grant! What is happening?!" my mother screamed into the speaker. "The developers just kicked us out! They said Evelyn canceled the loan! What did you do to her?!"
"Shut up, Eleanor!" Grant spat back, his composure completely shattered. "She didn't just cancel your house—she froze every single business account I own! The police are at my corporate office right now with a subpoena! She turned over the internal financial ledgers!"
"Fix it!" my mother shrieked, completely unconcerned about my physical condition or whether I was even alive. "Tell the bank it was a mistake! We are supposed to move our furniture in today! Do you know how embarrassing this will be for us?!"
"She took everything!" Grant screamed back before slamming the phone down.
In the hospital room, Julian lowered his phone after monitoring the intercepted call log. He looked at me with a faint smile.
"They haven't even asked how you're breathing, Evelyn."
May you like
I looked out the window at the rising sun, feeling the slow, rhythmic thump of my heart against my bandaged chest.
"They never did," I replied softly. "And now, they never will again."
