Chapter 11 - The True Owner
While Derek and Vivian were stranded in the freezing parking lot of the country club, waiting for a humiliating ride-share to take them home, Elias was already executing phase two of our operation.
"The locksmith is in position," Elias said, looking at a live camera feed on his phone.
We did not change the locks on the house illegally. Naomi Chen didn't play dirty; she played flawlessly within the bounds of the law, which made the trap inescapable.
During the first two years of our marriage, Derek loved to act like the lord of the manor. He walked around our sprawling, four-bedroom colonial home acting as though his corporate salary had built it brick by brick. In reality, my grandmother’s trust had purchased the property outright through an anonymous holding company long before I even met him. Derek’s name was on absolutely nothing. He had contributed nothing but loud opinions on the landscaping and a few throw pillows.
Because of the hospital report confirming the severe physical and emotional distress caused by the highway incident, combined with Rosa's dashcam footage and Derek's own threatening text messages, Naomi had easily obtained a judge's signature. We had an emergency, ex parte protective order.
"The police are pulling up to the driveway now," Elias announced, turning his phone so I could see. "They will supervise the locksmith and secure your belongings. It is legally your sole residence, Lena. He has been officially classified as a hostile occupant."
I watched the tiny screen as two police cruisers parked on the pristine driveway. A licensed locksmith approached the heavy mahogany front door.
May you like
"Let's go home," I told Naomi.
The hospital staff helped me into a wheelchair. I was discharged, medically cleared, and ready to watch my husband's empire burn to the ground.
