Chapter 6 - The Sovereign Eviction Notice
Within fifteen minutes, the grand ballroom was completely empty, save for my broken family kneeling amidst the scattered orchid petals.
Chief Legal Counsel Arthur Montgomery, my grandmother’s former personal attorney, strode into the room holding four blue-bound leather portfolios.
Arthur walked with steady, dignified steps, stopping beside Dominic and me, looking down at Charles with cold, righteous disdain.
“Charles Sterling, by order of the Supreme Court of New York, I am serving you with an immediate writ of corporate receivership and property forfeiture,” Arthur announced.
Arthur tossed the heavy legal folders onto the table in front of my weeping father.
“Under the terms of the Katherine Montgomery Testamentary Trust, all real estate properties purchased with misappropriated trust capital are seized immediately.”
“This includes the twelve-room penthouse on Park Avenue, the twenty-acre equestrian estate in the Hamptons, and your fleet of corporate luxury vehicles.”
Beatrice jumped to her feet, clutching her silk gown, her voice shrieking in manic desperation.
“You cannot evict us from our home! I decorated that Park Avenue penthouse with my own hands! My jewelry is inside that safe!”
“Your jewelry was purchased with Vivienne’s dividend checks, Beatrice,” I said, stepping forward with absolute, unyielding serenity.
“Every diamond, every fur coat, and every piece of antique furniture in that apartment belongs to the Montgomery Trust.”
“The locks on the Park Avenue residence were changed by private security twenty minutes ago.”
“Your personal clothing has been packed into cardboard boxes and placed on the service curb outside the building.”
Charlotte crawled across the floor toward me, her hands trembling as she reached for the hem of my black silk gown.
“Vivienne… please… I am your sister!” Charlotte wept, her voice cracked and hoarse.
“You can’t leave me on the street with nothing! I don't know how to work! I don't know how to survive without our family’s money!”
I looked down at the golden child who had spent twenty years mocking my clothes, stealing my opportunities, and laughing at my pain.
I gently gathered the train of my gown, stepping back so her manicured fingers touched only the cold floorboards.
May you like
“You should have thought about survival before you cheered when our father shoved me into the fountain, Charlotte,” I replied softly.
“Now, you will learn the exact same lesson I learned for thirty-two years: how to stand on your own feet in the freezing cold.”
