Chapter 11 - Returning to the Scene of the Crime
By 6:45 PM,
I pulled my car into the driveway of the two-story house.
The new truck was parked in the front yard,
shining under the evening porch lights.
The house looked peaceful,
almost idyllic from the outside,
completely concealing the rot festering within its walls.
I stepped out of the car,
carrying my heavy leather briefcase,
and walked up the front steps.
I didn't knock.
I turned the handle—they hadn't even bothered to change the locks—and pushed the front door open.
Margaret and Paige were sitting in the living room,
surrounded by expensive designer shopping bags and gold-framed artwork.
Both of them looked up as I entered,
their faces a toxic mix of panic,
defensiveness,
and lingering arrogance.
"Vance!"
Margaret snapped,
standing up immediately,
smoothing down her silk blouse.
"What is the meaning of all these ridiculous legal threats?!
Have you completely lost your mind over that lying parasite?!"
Paige crossed her arms,
sneering at me.
"You think you can just freeze our accounts and humiliate us?
We gave you a home to come back to!
We managed your affairs while you were risking your life!"
I didn't say a word.
I slowly walked toward the center of the living room,
May you like
placed my briefcase on the coffee table,
and clicked the metal latches open.
