Chapter 7 - The Empire Strikes Back

Travis stared at me blankly. "Vance? Like... Vance Financial?"
"My father is Arthur Vance," I revealed, watching the sheer horror slowly register on Travis's face as he realized the true scale of who he had crossed. "I hid my wealth because I wanted a simple life. I wanted a husband who loved me for who I was. But you proved that you didn't even value my basic human life."
My chief attorney stepped forward, opening a thick binder and sliding papers across the table.
"As of eight o'clock this morning," the attorney announced briskly, "Miss Vance has filed for emergency full legal custody and an immediate decree of divorce. Furthermore, the mortgage on your home, which was secretly underwritten by a Vance subsidiary, has been foreclosed. You and your parents have twenty-four hours to vacate the premises."
"What?!" Travis gasped. "My parents live there! They have nowhere to go!"
"Then they can sleep on the street in Deborah's new handbag," I said without a trace of mercy.
"We are also filing civil suits against your mother, father, and sister for intentional infliction of emotional distress, criminal conspiracy, and reckless endangerment," my attorney continued smoothly. "We will be seizing all personal assets, bank accounts, and luxury items purchased using joint accounts."
Travis looked at me, completely shattered, realizing that his entire existence, his family's comfort, and his future had been completely obliterated in a single morning.
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"Sarah... please," Travis whimpered, tears streaming down his face. "Have mercy. We're family."
"Family doesn't lock you in a tomb to bleed out, Travis," I whispered, standing up and sweeping my coat around my shoulders. "Enjoy the trial."