Chapter 13 - The Eviction
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At exactly 4:30 p.m., Rachel Kim walked into the conference room holding a thick stack of papers stamped with the bright red seal of the county court. The emergency protective order had been officially signed by a judge.
"It's time to go home, Claire," Rachel said, handing me the documents.
I drove back to my grandmother’s house in the late afternoon light, followed closely by two marked sheriff’s cruisers. We pulled into the driveway, the flashing red and blue lights reflecting off the living room windows.
I handed the legal paperwork to the lead deputy, a stern, broad-shouldered man. He reviewed the judge's signature, nodded respectfully, and walked up to my front door. He didn't bother knocking; he pounded his heavy fist against the wood.
Owen opened the door, wearing comfortable sweatpants and a confident scowl that instantly evaporated the second he saw the badges.
"Owen Mercer," the deputy announced loudly, "you have been served with an emergency protective order. You have exactly ten minutes to gather your essential personal belongings and vacate this premises. You are legally barred from coming within five hundred feet of this property or Claire Mercer."
Owen’s face drained of all color. He looked past the deputies and saw me standing quietly on the sidewalk, my arms crossed over my chest.
"Claire, call them off!" he demanded, trying to step past the officers. "You can't kick me out of my own house!"
"It's her house, sir," the deputy corrected firmly, pushing Owen back inside. "Ten minutes. Move."
While Owen frantically threw clothes into a duffel bag under the watchful eye of a deputy, Dana Vale walked out of the master bedroom.
She was wearing my emerald-green silk robe over her expensive designer dress. She looked irritated, but not defeated, clearly believing this was just a minor, temporary inconvenience in her grand plan.
As the deputies forcefully escorted them both down the front walkway and toward Dana’s luxury SUV, she deliberately walked close to me.
She offered a cruel, pitying smile, leaning in slightly.
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"Don't get too comfortable, sweetie," Dana whispered maliciously. "He’ll have this ridiculous order thrown out, and we'll be back in that bed by tonight."
I didn't blink. I simply watched them drive away, completely unaware of the absolute destruction waiting for them on Monday morning.
