Chapter 6 - The Final Eviction NoticeStepping out of the elevator was not security, nor was it a delivery courier.
It was Marcus Vance, accompanied by two uniformed city sheriff’s deputies and a court bailiff carrying a thick leather briefcase.
Vivian froze mid-motion, her hand still raised in the air, slowly turning her head toward the sudden intrusion.
“Good afternoon, Ms. Sterling,” Marcus said politely, nodding in my direction before turning his sharp, professional gaze toward Vivian. He then looked down at the documents in his hand. “And you must be Ms. Vivian Mercer. Perfect timing. We were actually looking for you.”
Vivian slowly lowered her hand, her voice trembling slightly as she turned to face my lawyer. “What… what is the meaning of this? Who are you?”
“Marcus Vance, senior litigation partner at Sterling & Vance Corporate Advisory,” Marcus introduced himself smoothly, stepping into the penthouse foyer. He turned to the two sheriff’s deputies. “Officers, please execute the writ of immediate possession for the Mercer estate premises.”
One of the deputies stepped forward, pulling a crisp, official court-stamped document from his belt and holding it out toward Vivian.
“Ms. Vivian Mercer, pursuant to the superior court order of default judgment issued this morning in favor of Emma Sterling LLC, you are hereby served with a final writ of execution and immediate eviction from the property located at 442 Elmwood Estates. You have twenty-four hours to vacate the premises. All personal belongings remaining after tomorrow at noon will be subject to impoundment and public auction to satisfy outstanding corporate liens.”
The paper fluttered slightly in the air between them. Vivian stared at it as if it were a death warrant.
“No,” she whispered, shaking her head violently. “No! This is illegal! You can’t do this! I have rights! My family has lived in that house for decades! Daniel! Where is Daniel? Call my son!”
“Your son is currently at the county courthouse signing the joint divorce and property disclaimer petition,” I said quietly from across the room, watching her with detached pity. “He realized about two hours ago that fighting this battle with you was a losing game. He chose his own survival, Vivian. Just like you taught him to.”
Vivian staggered backward, her legs hitting the edge of the velvet sofa, causing her to collapse heavily onto the cushions. The indomitable matriarch, the queen of high society, the woman who had demanded I kneel on marble tile just seventy-two hours ago, finally broke into shattered pieces.
Tears streamed down her painted cheeks, ruining her makeup as she clutched her chest, gasping for breath.
“You… you destroyed us,” she sobbed, her voice cracking into a pathetic, hollow wail. “You took everything…”
“No, Vivian,” I said, walking slowly toward the foyer door and holding it open for the officers and my lawyer. “I didn’t destroy you. I simply stopped propping you up.”
Marcus gave me a respectful nod, leading the sheriff’s deputies back toward the private elevator. As the doors began to close, Vivian’s desperate cries faded into the background of the quiet penthouse.
I turned around, walked back to my living room window, and watched the afternoon sun glinting off the steel and glass of the city skyline.
May you like
The nightmare was over. The debt was settled.
And for the first time in my life, I wasn't kneeling for anyone.
