Chapter 2 - The Lockout
Serena winced, gasping as Daniel shoved her hand back. She staggered, clutching her wrist, her black satin dress twisting around her knees.
"You're making a massive mistake, Daniel," Serena hissed, her voice dropping into a cold, venomous snarl as she realized the act was completely over. "You think you can just throw me out? I'm your legal wife! My name is on the residency permits for this estate! If you touch me or force me out without a court order, my lawyers will file for domestic abuse and take half your company before the week is over!"
Daniel stared at her, his face completely devoid of emotion. He reached into his inner pocket, pulled out his personal satellite phone, and tapped a single speed-dial button.
"Arthur," Daniel said into the speaker. "Bring the team to the main house. Now."
Ten seconds later, the heavy double doors of the mansion’s entrance swung open.
Arthur Vance—a former military police commander who served as Daniel’s private head of security—stepped into the foyer, followed by four broad-shouldered security officers in dark suits, alongside the family’s longtime head housekeeper, Mrs. Gable.
Mrs. Gable took one look at Noah and Ava huddled on the sofa, saw the bruises on Noah’s arms, and let out a horrified gasp, running straight over to pull both children into her arms.
"Take Noah and Ava to the upper west wing," Daniel commanded softly, not taking his eyes off Serena. "Lock the floor. Have Dr. Reynolds come through the private rear gate immediately to examine their injuries and document every mark."
"Right away, Mr. Brooks," Mrs. Gable whispered, tears streaming down her face as she ushered the children up the sweeping marble staircase. Noah kept looking back over Mrs. Gable's shoulder, his little hands waving at Daniel until he disappeared around the landing.
Once the children were out of sight, Daniel turned back to Arthur.
"Ms. Serena Brooks is to be escorted off this property immediately," Daniel said.
"You can't do this!" Serena screamed, stepping back as Arthur and two officers moved toward her. "I have rights! This is my home!"
"This estate is held under the Brooks Family Irrevocable Child Trust," Daniel replied coldly, pulling a black leather wallet from his jacket and tossing a copy of an estate deed onto the coffee table. "You signed a prenuptial agreement fourteen months ago specifying that any physical or emotional harm brought upon the beneficiaries of this trust immediately voids your residency rights, your spousal allowance, and your access to all Brooks family assets."
Serena’s face drained of every remaining drop of color. "You... you planned this?"
"I built a logistics empire from nothing, Serena," Daniel said, stepping closer until he was looking down into her terrified eyes. "I audit every detail of my life. I started noticing small things three weeks ago—Noah flinching when you walked into the room, Ava hiding her laundry, the missing security footage from the hallway cameras. I came home early today because I had my tech team quietly bypass the internal network router you tampered with."
"Daniel, please!" Serena burst into frantic, ugly tears, dropping onto her knees on the marble floor, reaching out to grab the hem of his trousers. "I was stressed! I was overwhelmed! I'll go to therapy! I'll never lay a hand on them again! Please don't ruin me!"
Daniel looked down at her with pure, unadulterated disgust. He stepped back, pulling his leg out of her reach.
May you like
"Arthur," Daniel commanded. "Escort her to the front gates. If she sets foot past the outer driveway, have her arrested for trespassing."
"No! Daniel! No!" Serena shrieked as Arthur and his officers grabbed her by the arms, lifting her off the floor and dragging her out through the grand entrance, her heels scraping helplessly against the stone until the heavy doors slammed shut behind her.
