Chapter 4 - The Hallway of Boxes
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Julian blew through three red lights on the way back to the high-rise. He slammed his sedan into park in the subterranean garage, rushing into the elevator beside his mother.
"She probably went back home to cry," Carol scoffed, clutching her handbag tightly as the elevator ascended. "She has nowhere else to go. Her father vanished years ago, and she doesn't have a penny outside of what you give her, Julian."
"She's trying to embarrass me," Julian muttered, his knuckles white. "I'm going to make sure she apologizes on her knees this time."
The elevator doors chimed and slid open on the fourth floor.
Both of them froze as if they had walked into a brick wall.
The entire sixty-foot corridor leading to Apartment 4B was completely lined with neatly stacked, industrial-grade cardboard boxes. There were dozens of them, stacked three high, completely blocking the carpeted pathway. Every single box had a bright yellow inventory label slapped across the front, printed in bold black lettering:
ARA’S PERSONAL WARDROBE.
ARA’S PREMARITAL FURNITURE.
ARA’S FAMILY HEIRLOOMS.
ARA’S ELECTRONICS & APPLIANCES.
The front door to Apartment 4B stood wide open. Inside, the apartment was a hollow, echoing shell. The hardwood floors were bare; the artwork was gone; even the custom Italian velvet sofa had been removed, leaving behind only dust outlines on the floorboards.
Carol’s face turned from pale surprise to deep, blotchy red rage. She marched past the boxes toward the building manager, Mrs. Higgins, who was standing near the doorway holding a thick leather clipboard.
"What is the meaning of this?!" Carol screamed, her voice echoing down the hallway. "This is my son’s home! Who gave these movers permission to strip my son’s apartment?!"
Mrs. Higgins didn't flinch. She adjusted her glasses and calmly opened a manila folder.
"Your daughter-in-law gave us permission, Mrs. Vance," the manager replied, her tone cool and entirely unbothered.
Julian pushed past his mother, his chest heaving as he stared into his empty living room. "She can't do this! She can't just take over my house and clear out my belongings!"
Mrs. Higgins looked directly into Julian’s eyes, her gaze filled with pity mixed with profound disgust.
"Your house?" Mrs. Higgins asked softly.
May you like
She pulled a stapled document from her folder and placed it firmly into Julian’s trembling hands.
"Julian... this apartment was never yours."
