Chapter 4
|
Julian stared at Karen, his mind completely unable to process the absolute devastation of her words. This mansion, the ancestral home of his family, the symbol of his unyielding power and status, was no longer his. It belonged to his six-year-old daughter, and by extension, the woman he had spent the last five years tormenting, neglecting, and brutally betraying.
"You can't do this, Karen," Julian whispered, his voice trembling as he took a desperate step forward. "I have rights. I have tenant rights! You can't just throw me out onto the street without a thirty-day notice! This is illegal!"
District Attorney Sterling stepped smoothly between Julian and Karen, his hand resting casually on his leather belt, right next to his gleaming silver badge.
"Actually, Julian, since the property was transferred due to a federal seizure of fraudulent assets and an immediate bank foreclosure, standard eviction timelines absolutely do not apply," Sterling explained with a cold, deeply professional smile. "You aren't a tenant here anymore. You are a hostile trespasser on a property legally secured by a minor's trust."
"I have clothes upstairs!" Julian shouted, panic finally setting in as he looked toward the grand mahogany staircase. "I have expensive watches, emergency cash in the safe, my passport! I need my things!"
"All physical assets purchased with stolen company funds have been seized pending the federal audit," Sterling replied smoothly, completely unmoved by Julian’s frantic pleading. "You are allowed to take the clothes currently on your back and your personal cell phone. Absolutely nothing else."
Karen adjusted her secure grip on Lily, who was resting her head quietly against her mother's shoulder, completely unbothered by the screaming man who used to terrorize them on a daily basis.
"Get out of my house, Julian," Karen said, her voice dropping to a lethal, icy register that left no room for negotiation. "If you are not out the front door in exactly ten seconds, I will have the officers press charges for trespassing and child endangerment."
Julian looked around the massive foyer, searching for any sympathetic face, any legal loophole, any miraculous escape. There was none.
"One," Karen began counting, her gaze piercing right through his crumbling facade.
"Thomas, please!" Julian begged, looking at his former fraternity brother in sheer desperation.
"Two. Three."
"I'll freeze to death out there! It's pouring rain!" Julian cried out.
May you like
"Four. Five. Six," Karen continued, her voice entirely devoid of pity.
Julian realized she wasn't going to stop. He turned and stumbled toward the heavy double doors, pushing them open and stepping out into the freezing, torrential downpour. He turned back just in time to see the heavy oak doors slam shut, the sharp, definitive click of the deadbolt locking him out of his empire forever.
