Chapter 3 - The Eviction
The next ten minutes unfolded like a nightmare in reverse for Marcus.
While Adrian guided me upstairs to the nursery—a sunlit, peaceful room that had been fully prepared by my private staff while I was in the hospital—the security team accompanied Marcus to the master closet.
I sat in the velvet glider, holding Lily close, listening to the muffled sounds of slamming drawers and hushed, panicked arguments echoing down the long marble hallway.
Rosa, my head housekeeper who had been forced into taking "mandatory leave" by Marcus two weeks ago, entered the nursery carrying a tray of warm broth and fresh water. Her eyes were red-rimmed with tears as she looked at me and the baby.
"Oh, Miss Claire," Rosa whispered, kneeling beside my chair. "I am so sorry I wasn't here when you came home. That terrible woman locked the pantry and told the staff we were fired."
"You're not fired, Rosa," I said softly, taking a sip of the broth. "You're the head of this household. Marcus and Vanessa are the only ones leaving today."
"They're downstairs right now, packing trash bags," Rosa said, a bitter satisfaction touching her voice. "The security officer wouldn't even let Mr. Miller take his gold watch collection—the ones bought with company funds."
Downstairs, a loud crash echoed through the foyer—the sound of crystal breaking, followed by Marcus cursing at the top of his lungs.
I didn't flinch. I stayed in the quiet nursery, breathing in the sweet, clean scent of my daughter.
Ten minutes later, Adrian knocked gently on the nursery door and stepped inside. He handed me a receipt stamped by the security detail.
"They are off the property, Claire," Adrian reported. "Marcus attempted to take the corporate laptop, but security confiscated it at the front door. We've already dispatched an IT forensics team to secure the server room down in the study."
"Did Vanessa leave?" I asked.
"She left on foot down the driveway to meet a rideshare," Adrian smiled grimly. "Her luxury SUV was attached to the tow truck as she walked past it."
I looked down at Lily, whose tiny fingers were curled tight against my sweater. The physical pain from my incision was still intense, but the suffocating weight that had rested on my chest for months was gone.
"What's the status on the firm?" I inquired.
"Vale Meridian's board of directors is meeting at eight o'clock tomorrow morning," Adrian explained, pulling out a tablet. "Marcus had convinced them he was the primary visionary behind our latest $400 million real estate fund. Tomorrow, we reveal that every major institutional investor in that fund signed on because of your family's personal guarantee."
"He thought he was the master of the universe," I murmured.
"He was an employee who forgot his place," Adrian corrected. "When the board sees the evidence of embezzlement, unauthorized corporate transfers to Vanessa Cole, and the attempt to lock you out of your own estate, they will vote to strip him of his remaining stock options before lunch."
"Good," I said, leaning my head back against the cushion. "I want him completely bankrupt by the time we file the formal divorce petition on Monday."
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"Consider it done," Adrian said softly. "Get some rest, Claire. You've won the first battle."
"No, Adrian," I replied, looking out the grand window toward the gates of the estate where two police cruisers were now parked to ensure my safety. "This wasn't a battle. This was just the eviction. The real war starts tomorrow."
