Chapter 5 - Retaliation from Behind Bars and the Restraining Order
Friday morning arrived with a cold, biting rain that battered the windows of Claire’s living room.
Claire sat at her desk, going over the preliminary financial audit Arthur Vance had sent over. The depth of Evan’s deceit was staggering. He had systematically routed funds through dummy corporations, hidden debts in secret accounts, and tried to manipulate every aspect of their marriage to maintain financial dominance.
A sharp knock at the front door interrupted her concentration.
Claire walked to the foyer, looked through the peephole, and saw a pair of process servers standing under the porch awning, holding a thick envelope. She opened the door just a crack.
“Claire Mercer?” one of them asked.
“Yes.”
“You’ve been legally served with emergency legal motions filed by Evan Mercer’s defense counsel.”
Claire raised an eyebrow, took the envelope, and closed the door. She carried it to the kitchen island, sliced open the top, and pulled out the documents.
Even from behind bars, Evan was still trying to claw his way back. His desperate legal team had filed an emergency injunction claiming that Claire had unlawfully locked him out of his “marital residence” and demanding immediate temporary alimony, vehicle access, and joint control of the property pending trial.
Claire let out a dry, humorless laugh. She picked up her phone and immediately speed-dialed Arthur Vance.
“Arthur, I just received a pathetic attempt at retaliation from Evan’s lawyers,” Claire said without preamble. “He’s filing for marital residency rights and temporary alimony.”
Arthur let out a booming laugh on the other end of the line. “Ignore it, Claire. My office was already two steps ahead of them. In fact, as we speak, I am standing in front of Judge Henderson’s bench filing our motion for a permanent restraining order and an ironclad asset forfeiture judgment.”
“Is it going to hold?” Claire asked, wanting absolute certainty.
“Hold?” Arthur’s voice turned triumphant. “With the video of him burning the deed, the forensic audit proving he tried to forge your signature on a fraudulent lien, and the domestic battery report from the hospital check-up you got yesterday morning... Judge Henderson didn't just grant the restraining order. He signed an order barring Evan and his immediate family members from coming within one thousand feet of you or this property for the next ten years. Violate it, and Evan goes straight back to maximum security without bail.”
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“Thank you, Arthur,” Claire breathed, a profound wave of relief washing over her.
“Don't thank me yet,” Arthur added with a grin. “Your mother-in-law is currently trying to liquidate her own country club assets to pay for her legal fees, and the IRS just flagged her accounts for tax evasion. Karma is working overtime this week.”
