Chapter 4 - The Audience Gathers
Derek stepped out into the foyer first, holding a half-empty glass of scotch. When his eyes landed on me standing in the center of the marble entrance—unbothered, unblemished, and entirely composed—his face twisted into a mixture of utter bewilderment and sudden, soaring rage.
"How the hell did you get out of that room?" he demanded, his voice echoing off the vaulted ceilings.
Behind him, the rest of the twenty-two relatives poured out of the dining hall like a pack of wolves sensing a disruption in the pack hierarchy. Brenda pushed her way to the front, her pearl necklace bouncing against her silk blouse, her eyes wide with cold indignation.
"Chloe!" Brenda barked, pointing a manicured finger at me. "You were told to stay upstairs until you reflected on your disgraceful behavior toward this family!"
I stood my ground, my hands folded neatly in front of my dress. "I gave you a chance, Derek. Fourteen hours to prove that you were the man you pretended to be during our courtship. You failed before the sun even reached its peak."
Derek let out a harsh, barking laugh, taking a step toward me, his chest puffed out in a display of physical intimidation. "You think you have choices here, Chloe? Look around you! You're in my house! You signed the marriage license yesterday! Your assets are being merged into the Sterling Trust as we speak! You don't get to walk out because your feelings got hurt by a little discipline!"
"Your house?" I repeated, allowing a soft, pitying smile to touch my lips.
"Yes! My house!" Derek shouted, his face turning a dark, mottled red. "My family built this estate! We own this land, we own the development firm, and starting today, we own your little auditing business! So get your ass back upstairs before I lose my temper completely!"
Before he could take another step, the heavy wrought-iron front doors behind me swung open with a slow, dramatic groan.
A tall, silver-haired woman stepped into the foyer. She wore a tailored charcoal suit, carried a pristine leather briefcase, and was flanked by two tall men in dark suits holding blue legal folders.
Victoria Sterling looked around the grand foyer, her sharp eyes locking onto Brenda with an expression of pure, predatory satisfaction.
"Actually, Derek," Victoria spoke, her voice ringing out like a silver bell in the quiet room. "You don't own this house. You haven't owned it since nine o'clock this morning."
Brenda went completely pale, taking an involuntary step backward. "Victoria... what are you doing here?! Get out of my home!"
"It isn't your home, Brenda," Victoria replied smoothly, opening her briefcase and pulling out a sheaf of certified court documents. "As of eight hours ago, the foreclosure default notice on the Sterling estate was finalized by the State Superior Court. The mortgage notes were purchased in full by an independent holding firm."
May you like
Victoria turned, offering me a polite, respectful nod.
"A holding firm," Victoria continued, "that is one hundred percent owned and operated by your new daughter-in-law, Chloe."
