Chapter 3 - The Golden Child’s Meltdown
"You're arresting me?" Erin shrieked, her voice reaching a pitch that made the hall chandelier vibrate. "Are you insane? Look at her! She’s totally fine! It was a tiny tap! I’m the victim here! She’s trying to throw me out on the street right before my seed funding round closes! Do you know who I am? I run PulsePoint!"
Officer Davis didn't flinch. "I don't care what app you run, miss. In Washington, domestic violence assault requires a mandatory arrest if probable cause of physical injury exists within the last four hours. Step forward and turn around."
"No! Dad, do something!" Erin screamed, burying her face into our father's shoulder. "Tell him she’s crazy! Tell him Claire attacked me first!"
Dad tried to puff out his chest, stepping between his favorite daughter and the law. "Listen to me, officer. I am a respected member of this community. We can resolve this internally without ruining a young woman's future over a scratch. Claire, tell him you won't press charges. Tell him right now, or you are dead to this family!"
I stood by the doorway, looking at the man who had spent my entire childhood telling me to sacrifice for my little sister. When I won the state coding championship, he had skipped my ceremony to take Erin to soccer practice. When I worked two jobs through college to pay for tuition, he told me it would build character, while he handed Erin fifty thousand dollars for an artisanal candle company that vanished into bankruptcy within six months.
"I'm not dropping anything, Dad," I said quietly. "In fact, I am cooperating fully with the prosecutor's office. You told me earlier tonight that being responsible shouldn't give me the right to control everything. Well, being reckless shouldn't give Erin the right to assault me and steal my home."
Officer Davis firmly guided my father out of the way. Within thirty seconds, Erin’s slender wrists were secured behind her back with cold steel cuffs. Her expensive designer jacket was rumpled, her highlighted hair fell over her tear-streaked face, and her loud entitlement devolved into hysterical, undignified sobbing.
"Mom! Mommy, stop them!" Erin wailed as Officer Davis escorted her out into the cold Seattle drizzle toward the flashing blue and red patrol lights. "Claire, you miserable bitch! I'll destroy you! I swear to God I'll ruin your life!"
May you like
Diane collapsed onto the hallway bench, weeping into her hands as if she were mourning a fallen saint. "You ruined our family, Claire. Your grandparents are rolling in their graves. You're an unnatural daughter. Unnatural!"
"Grandma and Grandpa knew exactly what they were doing, Mom," I said, opening the door wider to let the cool autumn wind blow through the stale dining room. "They gave me the deed because they knew I was the only person who actually loved them for who they were, not for what their estate was worth. You have thirty days. Not thirty-one. Start packing."
