Chapter 4 - Thrown Into the Cold
With trembling, soup-covered fingers, Victoria picked up her phone. The screen flashed an urgent alert from the Land Registry and County Sheriff’s Department:
Property Title Transfer Complete: Crestview Estate. New Sole Owner: Damon Vance. Eviction Notice: Effective Immediately.
The phone slipped from her hands, shattering against the stone pavers.
“No... this can’t be real!” Victoria shrieked, clutching her face, smearing chowder across her cheeks in sheer madness. “This was my mother’s estate! You can’t throw us out!”
“It was my father’s estate before you forged the deeds,” Damon replied coldly. He looked toward Captain Briggs. “Briggs.”
“Yes, Chairman!” Briggs snapped to attention, saluting with rigid discipline.
“Throw Richard Vance, his daughter, and all their personal belongings into the street. Give them five minutes. Anything left after five minutes goes into the municipal incinerator.”
“Right away, sir!” Briggs barked, instantly signaling his entire tactical squad.
“Damon! Damon, please!” Richard screamed, crawling on his hands and knees, desperately grabbing at Damon’s polished leather shoes. “Give me a chance! I’ll work for you! I’ll be your janitor! Just don’t destroy me!”
Damon stepped back cleanly, letting Richard’s fingers slide off the leather. Two heavy-set guards grabbed Richard by his armpits, hoisting him up and dragging him toward the perimeter gates while he wept like a broken child. Other guards seized Victoria by her bare shoulders, dragging her through the mud as she kicked and cursed like a maniac.
The surrounding guests stood pale and shivering, not daring to breathe. These were the elite who had laughed when Victoria splashed red wine on Maya only ten minutes ago.
Damon’s cold eyes swept over the paralyzed crowd. “The party is over. You have two minutes to clear my grounds. If I see a single outsider past the gate, your companies will share Richard’s fate tomorrow morning.”
A stampede followed. Dignitaries, heiresses, and CEOs scrambled toward the exits in absolute hysteria, leaving behind broken wine glasses, abandoned fur coats, and high-heeled shoes.
Maya watched the chaotic exodus, her heart pounding violently against her ribs. She looked up at Damon. “Brother... what did you become in these five years?”
Damon reached into his suit, pulling out a small velvet box and opening it. Inside lay an ancient jade pendant—the heirloom stolen from their dying mother.
“I became what I needed to become, Maya,” Damon answered quietly. “To ensure that no one will ever make you bow your head again.”
May you like
Suddenly, the phone in Damon’s pocket vibrated with an encrypted ringtone. He answered, putting it to his ear.
A gravelly voice spoke on the other end: “Boss. We raided Richard’s private safe. Your father didn’t die of heart failure. He was poisoned.”
