Chapter 9 - The Master's RuinEvan slumped against the mahogany desk, sliding down until he was sitting on the floor amidst the scattered papers, his wet designer suit ruined, his eyes vacant and bloodshot.
The grand illusion of Evan Mercer—the wealthy, powerful executive who condescended to his wife and commanded his household—had completely shattered.
He was broke. His salary at the brokerage firm didn't even cover his personal lines of credit. He didn't own the house. His mother had committed felony fraud in his name, and his entire family had just witnessed his absolute ruin on high-definition video.
"Claire..." Evan choked out, looking up at me with tears finally pooling in his eyes. "Claire, please... we can fix this. We're married. We're a team."
"A team?" I scoffed, looking down at him from my full height. "An hour ago, Evan, you handed me a basin of water and told me to kneel on the floor like a servant in front of your family."
"I was stupid! I was trying to impress my uncle!" Evan begged, reaching out to touch the hem of my dress, but I took a deliberate step back out of his reach. "Please, Claire... if you report this loan, my mother will go to prison! I'll be fired from the firm! My reputation will be destroyed!"
"Your mother made her choice when she forged my signature," I replied coldly. "And you made yours when you threw water in my face and burned my documents."
I turned to Uncle Arthur, who was standing stiffly in the doorway, his face dark with embarrassment.
"Arthur," I said politely. "You are an officer of the court. As of this moment, every member of the Mercer family is officially trespassing on private property held by the Vance Family Trust. If you and your relatives are not out of this house in five minutes, the Cook County Sheriff will remove you in handcuffs."
Uncle Arthur didn't argue. He looked at Diane with cold, unyielding disgust, then turned toward his sons.
"Get your coats," Arthur ordered his family sharply. "We're leaving."
"Arthur! Wait!" Diane cried out, reaching for her brother's arm. "You can't leave us! Help us!"
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"You committed fraud, Diane," Arthur said, shaking her hand off his coat with sharp disdain. "You lied to the family for three years about Evan's wealth, and you dragged us into this humiliation. You're on your own."
Within three minutes, the heavy oak front door slammed shut four times as Uncle Arthur, his sons, and a weeping Brooke fled down the front steps into the rain.
