Chapter 10 - Ten Minutes to Eviction
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The nursery was suddenly filled with the loud, crystal-clear sound of Eleanor’s own voice blasting from my phone's high-definition speaker:
"Leo is crying because his mother is weak and completely incompetent. Get down on your hands and knees and clean up this glass. Only then will I let you hold him."
The sound echoed off the yellow walls of the nursery, sharp and brutal.
Eleanor froze as if she had been struck by a bolt of lightning. The blood drained from her face so rapidly that she turned a sickly, ghost-like gray. Her lips parted, but no sound came out.
"Where... where did you get that?" she finally stammered, her voice stripped of all its polished, aristocratic elegance.
"You disconnected the main router at 9:15 AM," I said, taking a step toward her. "You assumed that broke the camera system. You didn't check for a standalone cellular-backed lens hidden in the ceiling. I watched every single second of your little performance, Eleanor. And so did Audrey."
"Audrey?!" Eleanor’s face contorted into a mask of pure, demonic fury. "You sent this to your ungrateful sister?! It was a joke, Julian! I was trying to motivate Clara! She’s lazy! She’s taking advantage of your kindness, lying in bed all day while you work yourself to the bone!"
I took two steps forward, reached out, and firmly, irresistibly took my screaming son from her arms. She tried to pull back, but my grip was absolute. I held Leo gently against my chest, feeling his tiny heart beating wildly against mine.
"Pack your bags," I said.
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"This is my son’s house!" Eleanor shrieked, her voice hitting an unpleasant, shrill register as she completely dropped the grandmother persona. "You cannot kick me out! I am your mother! I gave up my life to raise you!"
"You have ten minutes," I replied, glancing down at my watch. "Because if your boots are still touching my property in eleven minutes, you will be removed in handcuffs for domestic abuse, criminal endangerment of a vulnerable adult, and trespass."
