Chapter 4 - The Puppet Master
Headline: "My husband tried to force me into a mental institution to steal my inheritance. He didn't know my grandfather’s lawyers were already standing in our living room."The next morning, I woke up to the sound of Richard speaking in hushed, urgent tones downstairs.
I wrapped my robe around myself and walked quietly down the stairs, stopping just out of sight near the kitchen entryway.
"...yes, Dr. Morrison," Richard was saying into his phone, his voice dripping with false concern. "She’s had a complete nervous breakdown. She’s claiming to be related to the owner of my company. It’s a delusion... yes, a severe manic episode. I think an involuntary psychiatric evaluation is necessary. I want to protect her, of course, but she’s becoming a danger to herself and my career."
My blood ran cold.
He wasn't just trying to save his job anymore. He had realized that if there was even a fraction of truth to what Charles had said, there was a massive fortune involved. If he could have me declared mentally incompetent, he could control me—and control the money.
I stepped into the kitchen. "Hang up the phone, Richard."
Richard spun around, his eyes narrowing. He didn't look guilty; he looked annoyed that he had been caught. "I’m doing this for your own good, Lisa. You’re sick. You need help."
"I am not sick," I said, my voice cold. "And you are going to leave this house."
"My house?" Richard laughed, stepping toward me. "I bought this house. My name is on the deed. You don't have the authority to kick me out of anywhere. Now, go upstairs and pack a bag. We’re going to see a doctor."
Before I could respond, the front doorbell rang.
Richard frowned. "Who the hell is that at eight in the morning?"
He walked to the front door and pulled it open. Standing on the porch were three men in immaculate, dark charcoal suits, carrying heavy leather briefcases. Behind them, parked along our modest suburban street, were two black luxury SUVs with tinted windows.
"Richard Vance?" the man in the center asked. His voice was like a steel trap snapping shut.
"Yes?" Richard said, suddenly defensive. "Who are you?"
"My name is Arthur Pendelton," the man said, stepping past Richard into the entryway without waiting for an invitation. The other two men followed, shutting the door behind them. "I am the senior managing partner of Pendelton & Associates, chief legal counsel for the Whitmore Group and the Whitmore family trust."
Richard’s face went pale. "Mr. Pendelton... I... is this about last night? I was just organizing some medical help for my wife. She’s not well—"
"Mr. Vance," Pendelton interrupted, opening his briefcase and pulling out a thick stack of legal documents. "We are not here to discuss your wife's health. We are here to serve you with several urgent legal notices."
He handed the first document to Richard, who took it with trembling hands.
"First," Pendelton said, "you are being served with a temporary restraining order. You are required to vacate these premises immediately. This property, while registered in your name, was purchased using a low-interest loan facilitated by a subsidiary of the Whitmore Group. That loan has been called in, effective immediately. The property has been acquired by the Whitmore trust."
"What?!" Richard gasped. "You can't do that! This is my home!"
"Second," Pendelton continued, completely ignoring Richard’s outburst, "you are being served with divorce papers on behalf of your wife, Lisa Vance. She is requesting a dissolution of marriage on the grounds of emotional abuse and financial manipulation."
Richard stared at the papers, his chest heaving. He looked at me, standing at the end of the hallway, and then back at the lawyers.
May you like
"Lisa, you can't do this!" he yelled. "You’re throwing away eighteen years of marriage for some crazy old man's money?!"
"And finally," Pendelton said, his voice dropping into a tone of absolute finality, "you are being served with a notice of suspension from the Whitmore Group, pending an internal audit into your department’s expense reports and project allocations over the last five years. We suggest you retain legal counsel of your own, Mr. Vance. You are going to need it."
