Chapter 7 - The House of Cards Collapses
Within thirty minutes, the street outside the mansion had turned into a public spectacle.
Neighbors gathered on their lawns as private security officers escorted Evelyn Halston out of the front door. She was clutching a single pink suitcase, screaming obscenities at the guards while her designer hair fell out of its pristine bun.
"You can't do this to me!" Evelyn shrieked, stumbling near the driveway. "My son is a powerful businessman! I will have all of you fired!"
"Ma'am, step past the gate," the sheriff deputy commanded sternly. "If you cross back onto the property line, you will be arrested for criminal trespass."
Derek stood on the curb, his luxury car already hooked to the back of the flatbed tow truck. His suit jacket was wrinkled, his tie loosened, and his face red with humiliation.
Chloe had already called an Uber, leaving Derek’s personal luggage piled on the grass beside his mother's single suitcase.
"Where is she?" Derek yelled at Harrison, who was calmly signing off on the security team's paperwork. "Where is Audrey?! I want to talk to my wife!"
Harrison turned slowly, placing his pen back in his breast pocket.
"Mrs. Vance has no interest in speaking with you, Mr. Halston. In fact, a temporary restraining order has been issued. You are not to come within five hundred yards of her, her daughter, or any Vance corporate property."
"She can't do this!" Derek roared, tears of panic finally breaking through his arrogant facade. "We’re married! Half of everything she has is mine!"
Harrison let out a soft, dry laugh. "Mr. Halston, you signed an ironclad prenuptial agreement six years ago. You were so eager to protect your tiny startup that you didn't even read the schedule of assets attached to Audrey's trust. Every single dollar you have touched for the last six years belonged to her family. And now, the audit begins."
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Harrison leaned in slightly, his tone lowering into something terrifyingly absolute.
"Our foreheads are currently analyzing your company’s bookkeeping. Every transaction you made to fund your mistress's lifestyle using corporate accounts will be prosecuted as grand larceny. I suggest you find yourself a very good criminal defense lawyer. Although, given that your personal accounts were frozen one hour ago... I doubt you can afford one."
