Chapter 7 - The Eviction of Lakeview
The following morning at 8:00 AM, the cold autumn wind swept across the front lawn of the Lakeview Terrace estate.
A large commercial moving truck and two marked sheriff vehicles were parked outside the mansion. Evelyn Mercer stood in the grand foyer in her silk dressing gown, clutching a gold jewelry box as two Cook County Sheriff deputies handed her an emergency writ of possession.
"This is my son's house!" Evelyn shrieked at the deputies. "You have no legal right to remove my belongings!"
"This property was purchased using funds drawn from the joint marital trust seeded entirely by the Sterling Estate, Mrs. Mercer," Deputy Miller replied, handing her the certified court order. "The emergency domestic violence protective order grants exclusive, immediate occupancy of this residence to Mrs. Claire Sterling-Mercer. You have sixty minutes to collect your personal clothing and vacate the premises."
Across the street, neighbors and country club peers gathered on their front lawns, watching in utter disbelief as moving crews carried out Evelyn’s designer luggage and stacked them on the curb.
Megan walked out of the front entrance carrying her suitcases, walking straight past her mother without stopping.
"Megan! Where are you going?!" Evelyn cried, reaching for her daughter’s arm. "You're abandoning your own mother?!"
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"I'm going to the hospital to be with Claire," Megan replied, wiping a tear from her cheek. "I’m choosing to be part of a real family, Mom. One that doesn't hide abuse behind money."
Megan got into a waiting town car and drove away, leaving Evelyn standing alone on the sidewalk among her scattered luggage as the sheriff deputies padlocked the front gates.
