Chapter 5 - The Master of the House
Vanessa stood up so quickly her crystal water goblet overturned, soaking the linen napkin near her plate.
"Daniel, what does this mean?" Vanessa demanded, grabbing his tailored sleeve. "What about the townhouse in Beacon Hill? What about the trust fund for the baby?"
Daniel pulled his arm away from her grip, his eyes wild and bloodshot. "Shut up, Vanessa! Just shut up for one minute!"
Vanessa blinked, tears of shock welling in her eyes. The charming billionaire who had promised her a life of private jets and high-society galas was dissolving into a cornered, frantic rat before her very eyes.
Evelyn stood up from the head of the table.
She smoothed the front of her black tailored dress, her posture straight, commanding, and utterly unyielding.
"Daniel Whitmore," Evelyn spoke, her voice ringing clear and steady through the grand dining hall. "Your employment as Chief Executive Officer of Whitmore Holdings was officially terminated by the receiver two hours ago."
"You can't fire me from my father's company!" Daniel screamed, stepping toward her with raised fists.
Before he could take two steps, the heavy oak dining room doors swung open with a resounding thud.
Two uniformed officers from the Massachusetts State Police, accompanied by an attorney in an immaculate charcoal suit, walked into the room.
The attorney stepped forward, carrying a court order bearing the gold seal of the Commonwealth.
"Daniel Whitmore," the lawyer stated calmly. "I am Thomas Vance, legal counsel for St. Jude Holdings and the court-appointed receiver. You are hereby served with an immediate trespass warning and an ex-parte eviction notice for this residence."
Caroline rose, trembling with outrage. "This is an outrage! This is the Whitmore ancestral home! You cannot remove my son from his own house!"
"Mrs. Caroline Whitmore," Vance said, turning his cold gaze upon her. "This property is legally registered to St. Jude Real Estate Corp. Your life-estate tenancy was contingent upon Arthur Whitmore’s original covenants, which you breached this evening by facilitating the unauthorized transfer of corporate domicile."
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Caroline collapsed back onto her dining chair, clutching her chest.
"You have fifteen minutes to collect your personal clothing, Daniel," Evelyn said, looking down at the man she had loved for nearly two decades. "The cars in the driveway belong to the fleet lease. The watches in your dressing room were purchased with company funds during the default freeze. Leave them."
