Chapter 3 - The Eviction

I looked at the glowing screen of the tablet and then up at Olivia. The sneer had completely vanished from her face, replaced by a pathetic, wide-eyed terror.

“This estate,” I announced, projecting my voice so every guest could hear, “belongs to a subsidiary of Vanguard Holdings. The Sterlings have been in default for six months. I allowed them to remain here out of courtesy for the wedding. A wedding that is now canceled.”

I turned to Marcus. “Clear the property of unauthorized personnel.”

“Clara, please!” Ethan begged, grabbing my wrist. I yanked it away immediately. “We can talk about this. We love each other! My mother made a mistake, she’s just—she’s just stressed—”

“She pushed my parents into a pool, Ethan,” I said, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “And you told me not to make a scene. You let her humiliate the people who gave me everything. You don't love me. You loved the subservient, quiet girl you thought you could control.”

“Ms. Sterling,” Marcus interrupted, stepping between me and Ethan. “You and your family have exactly one hour to vacate the premises. My security team will escort you inside to pack a single bag each. The rest of your assets will be frozen pending the embezzlement investigation.”

Olivia fell to her knees on the wet marble, her diamond necklace catching the afternoon sun. “You can’t do this! We’ll be ruined! Our reputation—”

“Your reputation is exactly what you made it,” I said coldly.

I turned my back on them and walked over to my parents, who were shivering but watching the scene with wide, stunned eyes. I draped my own dry shawl over my mother’s shoulders.

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“Mom, Dad,” I said, my voice softening instantly. “Let’s get you inside. The master suite is warm, and I have fresh clothes waiting for you.”

As my security team ushered my parents into the grand mansion—a mansion I now owned—I heard the chaotic scramble behind me. Guests were fleeing to the valet, whispering frantically about the fall of the Sterling empire. And for the first time in eighteen months, I felt like I could finally breathe.