Chapter 4 - The Eviction
At 7:00 a.m. the following morning, the Mercer family’s lakefront mansion was surrounded by five black SUVs.
Adrian hadn't slept a wink. He sat on the edge of the cream-colored sofa in his tuxedo, his tie undone, his eyes hollow. Savannah had vanished into the night the moment the gala ended, blocking his number before her Uber even reached the highway.
The grand oak front doors were pushed open without a knock.
Eleanor walked in, wearing a sharp, tailored black trench coat, her hair tied back in a businesslike knot. Behind her were four uniformed moving men and a team of forensic accountants.
Margaret, who was sitting in the kitchen staring at the cold, half-eaten roast from the night before, ran into the foyer. "Eleanor! You can't just walk in here! This is our home!"
"It was never your home, Margaret," Eleanor said calmly, not even stopping as she walked past her mother-in-law. "The deed to this property is held by Vale Holdings. You have exactly thirty minutes to pack your personal clothing. Anything purchased with Mercer Global funds stays."
"Eleanor, please," Adrian cried, rushing forward and dropping to his knees in front of her. He reached out to grab the hem of her coat, but one of her security guards stepped in, blocking him with a massive forearm. "I made a mistake. I was blind. The pressure of the business... it made me crazy. I love you, Eleanor. We can start over. We don't need the money—"
"You never loved me, Adrian," Eleanor said, looking down at him with a mixture of pity and disgust. "You loved the fact that I was quiet enough to let you pretend to be a king. You loved having a wife you could blame for your failures while you spent my family’s money on your mistresses."
She looked up at the moving men. "Clear everything. Every piece of furniture, every painting, every bottle of wine. Leave the house empty."
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"Where are we supposed to go?!" Brooke wailed, running down the stairs with a half-packed duffel bag. "My bank accounts are frozen! I can't even pay my rent!"
"I suggest you find a small town in Ohio," Eleanor replied smoothly, turning her back on them. "I hear the people there know how to survive without a trillion dollars in their pockets."
