Chapter 4 - The House on Alder Creek
Eleanor staggered back a step, bumping into the serving station behind her. Her hand knocked against a silver platter of roast beef, rattling the utensils.
"You're lying," she whispered, though the conviction had completely evaporated from her voice. Her eyes darted toward her sisters, seeking an ally, but Aunt Clara and Aunt Diane were staring at the certified deeds Marcus had just handed them.
"She isn't lying, Eleanor," Marcus Campbell announced clearly. "Two years ago, the mortgage on 442 Alder Creek Road entered judicial foreclosure. The bank scheduled a public sheriff’s sale. Emma purchased the note through Alder Preservation Group for five hundred and eighty thousand dollars in cash and assumed the remaining balance."
Marcus paused, letting the reality sink in for every relative in the room.
"Eleanor, you do not own the family home. You haven't owned it in twenty-six months. You are legally a tenant at sufferance, living rent-free by the grace of your eldest daughter."
A collective murmur of shock rippled through the guests. Eleanor’s face flushed an ugly, mottled crimson.
"A tenant?" Eleanor screeched, her voice cracking into a high-pitched wail. "In my own home?! The home I built with your father?! You stole it from me! You treacherous little snake, you tricked me into signing those papers!"
"You didn't read them," I replied calmly. "You handed them back to me in the kitchen while you were browsing European cruise packages on your iPad. You told me: 'Emma, just sign whatever prevents the bank from calling me, I don't have time for your depressing numbers.' Do you remember that, Mom? Or were you too busy wiring five thousand dollars of Dad's dwindling life insurance to Brooke's modeling coach?"
Brooke burst into hysterics, covering her face. "Why are you doing this to me?! Today was supposed to be about celebrating! You're trying to ruin my reputation! What will Liam’s family think?!"
Liam, Brooke's wealthy fiancé whose family owned several commercial car dealerships, sat at the end of the table looking completely mortified. His parents, seated beside him in pristine country club attire, had already pushed their chairs back from the table. Mrs. Sterling, Liam’s mother, was looking at Brooke not with affection, but with absolute revulsion.
"Mrs. Sterling," Julian addressed Liam’s mother directly, "Brooke told your family that she was contributing eighty-five thousand dollars toward the joint reception at the Biltmore, correct?"
Mrs. Sterling raised her chin, her eyes narrowing. "That was our understanding. A fifty-fifty split of the master invoice."
"Brooke doesn't have eighty-five thousand dollars," Julian said evenly. "Brooke has four hundred and twelve dollars in her checking account and twenty-two thousand dollars in unpaid credit card bills under three collection agencies. The sixty-two thousand dollars Eleanor demanded Emma surrender tonight was intended to cover Brooke’s share so your family wouldn't realize she was completely destitute."
Liam turned toward Brooke, his expression hardening. "Is that true? You told me your trust fund cleared last Tuesday."
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Brooke reached out to touch his arm, but Liam flinched away as if she were toxic. "Liam, babe, let me explain! Emma is twisting the facts! She’s jealous because I found you and she’s just bitter—"
"Shut up, Brooke," Liam said quietly, shaking his head in sheer disbelief. "Just shut up."
