Chapter 7 - THE EVICTION NOTICE
The eviction notice arrived on a Monday.
It wasn't dramatic.
No shouting.
No confrontation.
Just a formal envelope delivered by a process server.
Diane opened the door.
The man handed her the documents.
“Mrs. Mercer?”
“Yes?”
“Please sign here.”
“What is this?”
“Notice of possession.”
Diane looked at the paper.
Then screamed for Ethan.
Within minutes, the entire mansion was in chaos.
Ethan called Claire.
She didn't answer.
He called again.
Nothing.
Diane stormed into the office.
“You need to fix this.”
Ethan was already calling his attorney.
The attorney gave him bad news.
The ownership was legitimate.
The trust was valid.
The property had been transferred legally.
There was no simple way to reverse it.
Ethan slammed the phone down.
“This isn't possible.”
Richard sat quietly.
Diane turned toward him.
“You knew.”
Richard didn't respond.
“You knew she owned it.”
“I suspected.”
Diane stared.
“And you said nothing?”
Richard looked exhausted.
“I thought we had more time.”
“More time for what?”
Richard didn't answer.
Ethan turned toward him.
“Dad.”
Richard finally looked at his son.
“The guarantees.”
“What about them?”
Richard lowered his voice.
“She may have found them.”
Ethan went still.
“What guarantees?”
Richard closed his eyes.
“Your mother and I never told you everything.”
Ethan stared.
“What did you sign?”
Diane looked frightened.
Richard didn't answer.
Ethan shouted:
“What did you sign?”
Richard finally said:
“Everything.”
Ethan's face drained.
“What does that mean?”
Richard looked toward the window.
“It means if Claire activates the wrong clause, all of us could be exposed.”
Ethan whispered:
“Which clause?”
Richard didn't answer.
Because neither of them knew.
Claire had never told them.
That was the point.
She wanted them to wonder.
She wanted them to fear the unknown.
Because they had spent years using uncertainty against her.
Now it was their turn.
That evening, Claire received a call from Laura.
“We need to meet.”
“Why?”
“I found the seventh agreement.”
Claire's heart tightened.
“Where?”
“Not where you'd expect.”
“Tell me.”
“It was attached to your original marriage documents.”
Claire froze.
“What?”
“Your wedding records.”
Claire sat down.
Laura continued.
“There is a clause here that I have never seen before.”
“What clause?”
Laura hesitated.
“It concerns marital property.”
Claire closed her eyes.
“What does it say?”
“I don't want to tell you over the phone.”
“Laura.”
“Come to the office.”
Claire agreed.
She hung up.
Then her phone rang again.
Unknown number.
She answered.
A man's voice said:
“You finally found the house.”
Claire frowned.
“Who is this?”
“You haven't found the truth yet.”
“What truth?”
“The reason Ethan married you.”
Claire stared at the wall.
“I already know.”
“No.”
The voice became colder.
“You know what he wanted.”
A pause.
“You don't know who told him to do it.”
The call ended.
May you like
Claire slowly lowered the phone.
For the first time, she wondered whether Ethan had been the architect at all.
