Chapter 2 - The Removal
Evan jumped back from me as if he had been burned, his eyes darting frantically between the two armed officers and Evelyn Vance.
"What is the meaning of this?!" Diane shrieked, marching toward the door, pointing a wet finger at Evelyn. "Who are you?! This is a private family dinner! Officers, arrest this woman! She threw water on me! She assaulted me!"
Officer Miller, a tall officer with a stern demeanor, pulled a small notepad from his vest. "Ma'am, we received a call regarding a civil disturbance and an unlawful trespass at this address."
"Trespass?!" Brooke laughed hysterically. "This is my brother's house! He owns it!"
Evelyn Vance stepped forward, clicking open her briefcase with two precise, metallic snaps. She pulled out a pristine, blue-bound legal file—stamped with the official red seal of the Land Title and Survey Authority of British Columbia.
"I am Evelyn Vance, legal counsel for Claire Hartwood," Evelyn said, her voice crisp, authoritative, and utterly devoid of emotion. "I have in my hand the certified title deed for 1420 Highland Drive. The sole registered owner of this real property is the Hartwood Legacy Trust, of which Mrs. Claire Hartwood is the sole trustee and beneficiary."
Evelyn turned the document around, displaying the official registry stamp.
"Mr. Evan Mercer holds no legal title, no equity share, and no lease agreement for this premises," Evelyn continued. "Furthermore, my client executed a formal Notice of Trespass against Diane Mercer, Brooke Mercer, and their guests two weeks ago, delivered via registered process service to their residential address."
Diane’s jaw dropped. She looked at Evan, her voice pitched high with rising panic. "Evan... what is she talking about? Process service? You told us she was just throwing a tantrum about the keys!"
Evan stood frozen, his eyes glued to the red seal on the document. His hands began to tremble.
"Claire..." Evan stammered, stepping toward me, his voice dropping into a desperate, pleading tone. "Claire, baby... what are you doing? We're married! What's mine is yours, what's yours is mine! You can't just call the police on my family!"
"We never signed a joint asset agreement, Evan," I said, staring at him with cold detachment. "You insisted on keeping our bank accounts completely separate so I wouldn't have access to 'your' wealth, remember? You told me three years ago that a real man manages his own money."
"Officers," Evelyn turned to the RCMP officers. "My client is requesting the immediate removal of all unauthorized persons from her property. Mr. Evan Mercer may be granted fifteen minutes to collect his personal clothing and toilet items under your supervision. All other individuals must vacate the premises immediately."
Officer Miller nodded, stepping into the living room. "All right, folks. You heard the lady. Dinner is over. Please gather your coats and step outside."
"This is ridiculous!" Diane screamed, her face contorting into a mask of pure rage. "I am Diane Mercer! My family built Mercer Logistics! You can't throw me out into the rain!"
"Ma'am," the second officer said, placing a hand on his belt near his taser. "If you do not walk out that door right now, I will arrest you for obstruction and criminal trespass. Move."
The six Mercer relatives gasped, scrambling to grab their designer coats and purses. Brooke looked terrified, clutching her phone as she backed toward the door, her earlier arrogance completely shattered.
"Evan! Do something!" Diane wailed as the officer guided her toward the porch. "Tell them who we are!"
May you like
Evan didn't move. He stood in the center of the grand foyer, surrounded by his mother's wet foot-basin, the spilled water, and the scattered dinner plates. The man who had sat smiling while his mother tried to make me wash her feet now looked like a small, pathetic child left out in the cold.
"Fifteen minutes, Mr. Mercer," Officer Miller said, pointing toward the stairs. "Start packing."
