Chapter 3 - The Family Tribunal
Three days passed.
During those three days, the online harassment intensified. Unfamiliar accounts were leaving fake one-star reviews on my company's public LinkedIn page, claiming I was an unethical executive who abused elderly people.
My boss, Marcus Vance—the Chief Operating Officer—called me into his corner office on Thursday afternoon.
"Amanda, sit down," Marcus said, gesturing to a sleek leather armchair. He looked concerned, holding a printed sheet of paper containing one of the viral posts about me. "I'm receiving emails from our PR department. Someone is targeting you online, claiming you evicted family members illegally. Is there any truth to this?"
"None whatsoever, Marcus," I replied calmly, handing him an iPad pre-loaded with the video footage and Arthur Pendelton’s legal filings. "My sister broken into my home while I was on the company trip to Dallas, attempted to squat on the property with her in-laws, and tried to force me out of my own home. I had them removed by Portland PD, and my attorney has already filed defamation lawsuits against the perpetrators."
Marcus watched the video. His eyes widened as he heard my mother tell me to move out of my own house.
"Good God," Marcus breathed, handing the iPad back. "Your mother actually said that?"
"Yes. They are attempting to use public shaming to force me into giving them my house," I explained. "I assure you, Marcus, this will not affect my performance or the company's reputation. My legal team is handling it aggressively."
"If you need time off to handle this, Amanda, just say the word," Marcus offered warmly. "You're one of our top executives. We stand behind you."
"Thank you, Marcus. But I don't need time off. I need results."
When I arrived home Thursday evening, I found a black sedan parked across the street. Standing near my porch gate were three people: my uncle Richard, my aunt Susan, and my mother, Evelyn.
They were waiting for me.
I parked my car in the driveway, stepped out, and locked the doors. I didn't walk onto my lawn. I stood on the public sidewalk, keeping a safe distance while ensuring my security cameras had a clear, unobstructed view of all three of them.
"Amanda!" Uncle Richard barked, stepping forward. He was a large man who was used to dominating family gatherings with his booming voice. "We've been waiting here for an hour! Unlock this gate and let us inside so we can talk like adults!"
"You are trespassing on private property, Richard," I said, holding my phone in my hand. "State your business from the sidewalk, or leave immediately."
"Don't you dare speak to your uncle like that!" Aunt Susan snapped, pointing a trembling finger at me. "Your mother is sick with worry! Melissa and Greg are staying in a dingy motel near the highway because of you! Do you know how much that costs?!"
"That sounds like a personal financial problem for Greg and Melissa," I replied coolly. "They are grown adults in their thirties. They can get jobs and pay for their own housing, just like I did."
Evelyn stepped forward, her face twisted in a mask of wounded maternal pride. "Amanda, look at what you're doing to this family! You sent a lawyer's letter to your own sister?! Threatening to sue her for money she doesn't have?!"
"It wasn't just a lawyer's letter, Evelyn," I corrected her. "It was a formal Cease and Desist demand. And if Melissa does not delete every single defamatory post from social media by 5:00 PM tomorrow, Arthur Pendelton will file a suit for damages in the amount of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars."
Susan gasped loudly. "Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars?! Are you insane?! She's your sister!"
"She is a criminal who broke into my house, stole my clothes, damaged my furniture, and defamed my name across the internet," I said, my voice cutting through the damp evening air like a razor. "And you, Richard, and you, Susan, crossed a line by joining her smear campaign online. My lawyer has added your names to the third-party liability list."
Richard’s face flushed dark purple. "You're suing us?!"
"If you don't delete your comments and post a full public apology by tomorrow afternoon, yes," I stated flatly. "I spent seven years working eighty hours a week to build my life. I sacrificed sleep, relationships, and health while you all applauded Melissa for marrying a lazy freelocher who refuses to hold a job. You made your choice to enable her. Now you get to pay for it."
"You selfish, arrogant bitch!" Evelyn screamed, dropping her maternal facade entirely. Her eyes filled with pure venom. "I gave birth to you! I raised you! Everything you have belongs to this family! You owe us!"
"I owe you nothing," I said, stepping backward toward my secure side gate and tapping the keypad code. "You stopped being my mother the moment you told me to move out of my own home to make your favorite child happy. Get off my lawn before the security system dispatches the police."
I slipped inside the gate, slammed it shut, and heard the electronic magnetic lock click into place.
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Through the security camera monitor inside my kitchen, I watched Richard drag a screaming, hysterical Evelyn back into their sedan while Aunt Susan frantically pulled out her phone to delete her Facebook comments.
The tribunal was over. The war had officially moved to the courtroom.
