Chapter 9 - Stripped of Power
"Now, for you, Elizabeth," Ethan said, pulling a thick stack of legal documents from his briefcase and slapping them onto the table before her.
"What is this?" Elizabeth whispered, her voice trembling.
"That is a complete divestment of your shares in Blackwell Group," Ethan stated cleanly. "And these are divorce papers, signed by Father half an hour ago."
Elizabeth looked at Richard in absolute shock. "Richard... you wouldn't."
Richard looked at her with cold, empty eyes. "I spent thirty years letting you destroy everything good in this family, Elizabeth. I watched you almost kill a innocent young woman under my own roof because of your sickening pride. I am done. You will sign the papers, or you will face criminal prosecution for framing, extortion, and reckless endangerment."
"You can't kick me out!" Elizabeth screamed, tears finally breaking through her mascara. "I am the lady of Briar Glen! My name is Blackwell!"
"Not anymore," Ethan said. "This house belongs to me. And as of today, you are banned from stepping foot on any property owned by my company or my family worldwide. You have one hour to pack your personal clothing. Anything else—jewels, art, luxury cars—remains here."
Elizabeth looked around the room, desperately searching for an ally among the board members and lawyers, but every single person turned their face away from her in disgust.
She looked at Lily, expecting to see triumph or mockery in the young woman's eyes.
But Lily merely looked at her with a quiet, solemn pity.
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"You thought being powerful meant making people suffer," Lily said softy, her voice echoing in the large room. "But all you really built was a cage. I may have been your maid, Mrs. Blackwell... but you were always the real prisoner here."
Unable to utter another word, Elizabeth collapsed into a chair, sobbing hysterically as Mrs. Brooks stepped forward with two security officers to escort the former matriarch up to her room to pack her bags forever.
