Chapter 9 - The Eviction of Ghosts
The arrest was swift, humiliating, and recorded from at least twenty different angles by banquet guests and university media staff.
Arthur screamed obscenities as the handcuffs clicked tightly around his wrists, his face purple with rage and terror. Vanessa wept hysterically, covering her face with her ruined designer purse as she was led away toward the squad cars waiting outside.
Haley was left standing alone in the center of the Grand Atrium, clutching her VIP pass—which now felt like a lead weight in her trembling hands.
Clara walked slowly over to her stepsister.
Haley flinched, shrinking back, her eyes wide with fear. "Clara... please... I didn't know about the money. I swear I didn't know! Dad told me it was his business money!"
"You didn't know about the trust, Haley," Clara said gently, but with an underlying steel that made Haley tremble. "But you knew about the cruelty. You knew every time your mother insulted me. You knew every time you dumped your dirty clothes on my bed and told me to wash them. You knew I was graduating today, and you gladly took my ticket because you wanted followers on the internet."
Clara reached out and took the gold VIP ticket from Haley’s limp fingers.
"The house in Oakridge was bought entirely with my mother’s money," Clara said. "The deed is legally mine. Mr. Thorne is serving the formal eviction notice tomorrow morning at eight o'clock. You have until noon to take your clothes and get out."
"Where am I supposed to go?!" Haley cried, tears streaming through her heavy makeup. "I don't have a job! My agency dropped me! All my accounts are getting banned for harassment!"
"You're twenty-two years old, Haley," Clara replied evenly, turning her back on her. "Go get a job as a nurse's assistant. I hear the hospital is always looking for people who aren't afraid of hard work."
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Without another word, Clara walked away, leaving Haley sobbing alone in the glittering atrium as the guests turned their backs to resume celebrating.
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