Chapter 7 - Serving the First CourseThe first person to step out was Darcy Miller. She wore a sharp, custom-cut obsidian suit, holding a thick, cream-colored legal folder under her arm. Her eyes swept over the room full of champagne-sipping guests with the cold, hungry satisfaction of an apex predator entering a crowded paddock.
Directly behind her was a tall, broad-shouldered man in a crisp Cook County Sheriff’s deputy uniform, carrying a official brass badge and a stack of court-stamped documents.
The festive music playing from the ceiling speakers seemed to die instantly. The room fell into an eerie, suffocating silence.
Julian stared at Darcy, his expression shifting from anger to absolute bewilderment. He had met Darcy twice before—once at a college reunion, and once when she had bluntly told him at a dinner party that his understanding of corporate tax law was "embarrassingly amateur."
"Darcy?" Julian stammered, taking a step forward. "What... what are you doing here? This is a private family event."
Darcy didn't answer him. She turned slightly and nodded to the deputy beside her.
Deputy Vance stepped past the entry table, looking directly at Julian. "Are you Julian Vance-Cole?"
"It's just Cole," Julian corrected automatically, his voice faltering. "Yes. What is this about?"
"Julian Cole," the deputy said loudly, his voice echoing into every corner of the high-rise living room so all twenty-five guests could hear every syllable. "You are hereby served with a petition for Dissolution of Marriage filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County."
The deputy handed Julian a thick sheath of legal papers topped with a red judicial seal.
Julian didn't take them at first. His arms stayed frozen at his sides. The papers were pressed into his chest until his hands involuntarily closed around them.
"Divorce?" Fiona shrieked, breaking the silence like glass shattering on tile. She rushed forward, grabbing Julian's arm. "Divorce?! On my birthday?! Sloan, have you lost your mind?!"
She turned her furious gaze toward the gathered guests, waving her arms dramatically. "Everyone, I am so sorry! My daughter-in-law is having some sort of emotional breakdown! Julian, throw this woman and her friend out of our home!"
"I'm afraid Mr. Cole can't do that, Mrs. Cole," Darcy said smoothly, opening her folder with a deliberate, crisp snap of paper.
"And why not?!" Fiona sneered, stepping toe-to-toe with Darcy. "This is my son's house! He paid for this condo! You are trespassing on private property!"
May you like
I stepped forward, standing side-by-side with Darcy. I looked Fiona dead in the eye.
"No, Fiona," I said, my voice echoing across the silent room. "It isn't."
