Chapter 6 - The Front Line
Mark stared at my father, then at me, completely bewildered. “Vance Enterprises? Claire, what is going on? Why is the billionaire Arthur Vance standing in our living room?”
“Because he is my father, Mark,” I said, looking him dead in the eye.
The room went dead silent.
Patricia gasped, gripping the back of her chair to keep from falling. “Your... your father? But you said your parents were dead!”
“I never said they were dead,” I replied smoothly. “You simply assumed I came from nothing because I didn't flaunt wealth. And you treated me like dirt because you thought I had no one to protect me.”
My father stepped forward, his presence commanding and imposing. “Edward Stanton, as of 8:00 AM this morning, Vance Enterprises purchased all outstanding mortgages and personal debt notes associated with this property and Stanton Global from First National Bank.”
Edward grabbed his chest, struggling to breathe. “Mr. Vance... please... we can talk about this!”
“There is nothing to talk about,” Richard Sterling, our attorney, stated coldly. “We are exercising our right to immediate foreclosure due to default and covenant breaches. You have two hours to pack your personal belongings and vacate the premises.”
“Two hours?!” Patricia shrieked. “This is my home! You can’t do this to us!”
“I can, and I have,” my father said calmly.
Mark snapped out of his shock and rushed toward me, his hand raised aggressively. “You lied to me! You orchestrated this whole thing to destroy my family!”
Before Mark could get close to me, the two police officers stepped in front of him, grabbing his arms and forcing him back.
“Mark Stanton,” Officer Davis said sternly. “You are under arrest for domestic assault against Claire Vance, as well as child endangerment regarding Lily Vance.”
May you like
Mark struggled against the handcuffs being slapped onto his wrists. “Assault? I barely touched her! She’s my wife!”
“I was your wife,” I corrected him, taking a step closer and looking down at him. “And here are your divorce papers. My lawyer is requesting sole legal and physical custody of Lily, with zero visitation rights for you or your mother.”
