Chapter 6 - The Parasites Devour Themselves
The lobby of the downtown Marriot Hotel was crowded with business travelers, but no one could miss the loud, chaotic spectacle happening near the front desk.
Evelyn Vance was screaming at the night manager, her face red and blotchy, her expensive hair disheveled.
"What do you mean his credit card was declined?!" Evelyn shrieked, slamming her palm onto the marble counter. "We need two suites immediately! We have nowhere to go! My son is a wealthy man!"
The receptionist looked at Daniel, who was standing behind his mother looking like a ghost. His clothes were covered in dirt from the Hillcrest driveway, his eyes bloodshot, his hands trembling uncontrollably.
"Sir," the manager said calmly, pushing a card reader forward. "The card you provided has been declined for insufficient funds. You have a total balance of forty-two dollars in your checking account."
Amanda threw her handbag onto the floor, bursting into hysterical tears. "I can't live like this! Daniel, you promised us we were going to live in a mansion! You said Claire was weak! You said we were going to get millions!"
"Shut up, Amanda!" Daniel snapped, turning on his sister with sudden rage. "You and Mom are the ones who pushed me to change the door codes! You told me to leave her in the rain! You said she'd bow down!"
"Don't you dare blame me!" Evelyn roared, slapping Daniel across the face with a loud SNAP that echoed across the hotel lobby. "You arrogant fool! You had a billionaire-tier lawyer wife who paid for our dinners, our cars, and our vacations, and you blew it because of your pathetic male ego! You lost the house!"
Guests pulled out their phones, recording the meltdown.
"I didn't lose the house! She sold it behind my back!" Daniel yelled, rubbing his stinging cheek. "It’s illegal! I’m going to sue her! I’m going to take half of everything she has!"
Suddenly, two uniformed police officers stepped into the hotel lobby, flanked by Marcus Reed and a process server wearing a sharp suit.
"Daniel Vance?" the lead officer asked, stepping forward.
Daniel straightened up, a sudden surge of desperate hope washing over him. "Yes! Officers, thank God! I need to report a massive fraud! My wife stole my home and sold my personal belongings!"
The process server didn't answer. He stepped forward and slapped a heavy, four-inch stack of legal documents directly against Daniel’s chest.
"Daniel Vance, you are hereby served with a summons to appear in Family Court on Monday at 9:00 AM for an emergency hearing regarding sole custody, asset division, and criminal contempt," the server announced clearly.
The police officer pulled out a pair of handcuffs.
"Daniel Vance, you are also under arrest for grand larceny and attempted real estate fraud regarding the unauthorized Quitclaim filing on 404 Hillcrest Drive," the officer barked, grabbing Daniel’s arm and pinning it behind his back.
"WHAT?!" Daniel screamed, struggling wildly as the steel cuffs clicked around his wrists. "No! You can't arrest me! I'm her husband!"
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"You have the right to remain silent," the officer recited calmly, marching a screaming, weeping Daniel out through the sliding glass doors into the back of a waiting police cruiser.
Evelyn fell onto the lobby floor, sobbing hysterically as hotel security escorted her and Amanda out onto the sidewalk with their heavy suitcases, leaving them stranded in the cold night air with nowhere left to turn.
