Chapter 3 - Shattered Crowns—The Eviction Notice They Never Saw Coming!
The cold night air hit Helen and Victoria like a slap in the face as they were physically escorted out of the grand entrance of the benefit. Behind them, the doors of the Anderson Foundation slammed shut—this time, with them on the outside looking in.
"How could this happen? How!" Victoria shrieked, kicking her designer heels against the concrete. "That old man was senile! He loved me! I was the one who went to his tea parties! Maya was always hiding in her room studying!"
"He knew," Helen whispered, her perfect hair starting to unravel in the damp wind. Her face looked ten years older. "The old bastard knew exactly what we were doing. He pretended to be blind, but he was setting a trap for us. And Maya... Maya helped him."
"We still have the mansion," Victoria said, her voice shaking as she clutched her mother’s arm. "We still have the estate in Beverly Hills. The deed is in our name, right, Mom? Tell me she can't touch the house!"
But before Helen could answer, her phone buzzed violently. It was a call from the head of their household staff.
With shaking fingers, Helen answered. "Yes? What is it? Why are you calling me at this hour?"
"Mrs. Anderson..." the butler's voice was filled with a mixture of fear and professional detachment. "I am so sorry. But a team of private movers and legal representatives has just arrived at the estate. They have a court-ordered lock change and a seizure of all assets under the Anderson Trust."
"What?!" Helen screamed, her voice echoing down the empty street. "They can't do that! That is my home!"
"Actually, ma'am, the deed of the mansion is owned by the Anderson Estate Trust, which is now fully controlled by Ms. Maya. We have been instructed to pack your personal clothing and exit the property by midnight. All jewelry, art pieces, and luxury vehicles purchased with trust funds have been frozen as evidence for the upcoming audit."
The line went dead.
Victoria watched her mother drop the phone onto the cold pavement. The screen shattered, reflecting the streetlights like a broken mirror.
"Mom?" Victoria whispered, terror finally creeping deep into her bones. "What did they say?"
"We have nothing," Helen whispered, her eyes blank. "We have three hours to pack our clothes. We are being evicted."
Just then, a sleek black limousine pulled up to the curb. The tinted window rolled down slowly, revealing Maya sitting in the back seat, sipping a glass of sparkling water. She looked radiant, completely detached from the panic of the two women standing on the street.
May you like
"Need a ride?" Maya asked softly. "Oh, wait. I forgot. My driver only takes authorized guests. I suggest you call a cab. Though, you might want to check if your credit cards are still working first."
With a soft hum, the window rolled back up, and the limousine glided away into the dark night, leaving Helen and Victoria standing in the cold, realizing their luxurious empire had collapsed in a single evening.
