Chapter 6 - The Fall of the House of Morelli
Brent’s brain completely short-circuited. He stood in the afternoon sun, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. "Sold? That’s impossible! She can't sell this house! It's a marital asset! We're married!"
Karen stepped out of the passenger side, screaming at the top of her lungs. "Where are my pictures? Where are our family photos?"
The head guard pointed toward the edge of the manicured lawn near the trash receptacles. Three large, crushed cardboard boxes were stacked neatly beside the curb. Karen sprinted over, tearing the tape open, only to let out a horrified shriek. Her precious gilded portraits were piled carelessly inside, the glass cracked on several frames.
"My things!" Diane wailed from inside the SUV. "My antique china! My designer gowns!"
"Any pre-marital assets belonging to the Vance estate have been legally extracted," the guard stated coldly, checking his tactical watch. "You have sixty seconds remaining, Mr. Morrelli. The Boulder Sheriff's Department has already been dispatched. They are fully aware that the new owner has placed an active trespass injunction against you and your associates."
Just then, two police cruisers tore up the driveway, their blue and red lights flashing against the glass facade of the empty mansion. Brent ran toward the first vehicle, waving his hands frantically as a veteran deputy stepped out.
"Deputy! Thank God!" Brent yelled. "My wife has illegally locked me out and sold my house while I was on vacation! You need to arrest these men! They are occupying my property!"
The deputy looked at Brent with a mixture of pity and profound disgust. He pulled out a clipboard. "Are you Brent Morelli?"
"Yes!"
"Mr. Morelli, I have a signed affidavit here from the municipal court. The title of this home was verified as an unencumbered pre-marital asset belonging solely to Tessa Vance. She had the absolute legal right to liquidate the property at her discretion. Furthermore, I am serving you with these temporary protective orders and an emergency divorce filing submitted by Vanguard Legal Group."
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The deputy handed Brent a thick packet of legal documents. Brent’s eyes scanned the first page: IN RE: THE MARRIAGE OF VANCE AND MORELLI. PETITION FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE AND FULL SOLE CUSTODY OF INFANT CHILD.
"You need to leave the property now, sir," the deputy said, his hand resting on his utility belt. "If you step foot past this driveway again, you will be spending the night in the county jail."
