Chapter 2 - THE FROZEN EMPIREEvan’s face drained of color as his eyes darted across his phone screen. His thumb frantically swiped up and down, but the error message remained stubbornly fixed at the top of every banking and corporate app he owned.
“Account Suspended. Security Protocol 9-Bluebird Initiated. Access Denied.”
"This... this has to be a mistake," Evan stammered, standing up so fast his chair screeched loudly against the hardwood floor. He dialed a number with trembling fingers. "It’s me, Evans. Why is my corporate card declining at the grocery store? ... What do you mean my authorization level has been revoked? I’m the director! I sign the—what do you mean Director of What?!"
Gloria dropped her wine glass. It shattered against the floorboards, splashing deep red liquid across the pristine white rug like a pool of blood. "Evan! What is going on? Tell me you still have access to the secondary trust fund!"
"It’s gone!" Evan shouted, his voice cracking into a high-pitched panic. He whirled around to face me, his eyes wide with disbelief and sudden, creeping terror. "You... you didn't. You can't just freeze corporate assets! That’s corporate sabotage! I’ll call the board of directors! I’ll sue you for defamation and financial harassment!"
"Go ahead," I said coldly, walking over to the dining table and pulling out a chair for myself. I sat down gracefully, crossing my legs. "Call the board. Let's see how many of them pick up your call when they find out your employment contract was terminated thirty seconds ago by the sole majority shareholder. Oh, wait—that’s me."
Emily stared at me, her mouth slightly open. "Mom... what did you just do?"
"I simply reclaimed what belongs to my family, sweetheart," I replied, reaching out to pat her hand. "You see, Evan, when I drafted the Hartwell Family Trust three years ago, I anticipated that someone might mistake kindness for weakness. Clause 14, Section B clearly states: Any spouse attempting to exercise tyrannical control, physical intimidation, or financial extortion over a primary beneficiary results in the immediate, unappealable forfeiture of all corporate titles, company vehicles, and residential privileges."
Gloria lunged forward, her face contorted with rage, pointing a shaking finger at my nose. "You old witch! You planned this! You set a trap for my son! This house is ours! The court gave us residency rights when you signed the occupancy agreement!"
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"Did it, Gloria?" I tilted my head, smiling faintly. "Let me check my notes. Ah, yes. The occupancy agreement states that you are permitted to stay in the guest suite for a maximum of six weeks as a visitor. Today is day three hundred and thirty-five. Legally, you are no longer a guest. You are a squatter."
Before Gloria could scream another insult, the sound of heavy tires crunching up the gravel driveway pierced the night. Through the living room window, three sleek black SUVs pulled up, their headlights illuminating the front lawn like a crime scene.
