Chapter 6

An hour later, I wheeled my suitcase out of the lobby.

Waiting for me on the pavement was Brandon—and a small crowd standing behind him.

Aunts, uncles, cousins, distant in-laws... practically the entire Vance family tree had assembled on the sidewalk.

They formed a tight human barricade, blocking the driveway.

Every single face wore an expression of righteous fury, as if I were a criminal being led to the gallows.

Eleanor was sitting on a folding stool right at the front, clutching her chest, wailing dramatically for the entire street to hear.

"What did our family do to deserve this?! Bringing such a ruthless snake into our home!"

"There's no justice in this world! She's tearing our entire family apart!"

Chloe stood right beside her, rubbing Eleanor’s back while glaring at me with pure venom.

"Look what you did to Mom, Serena!"

"If you have an ounce of humanity left in you, sign that deed over right now and apologize on your knees!"

Neighbors began gathering around the edge of the courtyard, whispering and pointing phones at us.

"Is that her? She looks so polite, who knew she could be so vile?"

"Plotting against her own husband's family... what kind of monster does that?"

"Kids these days have zero loyalty to family."

I stood alone in the center of the crowd, treated like a public spectacle.

Hostility and vicious accusations pelted me from every direction.

I squeezed the handle of my suitcase so hard my knuckles turned ghostly white.

I told myself: Serena, keep your head up. You didn't do anything wrong.

You are just taking back what belongs to you.

I lifted my chin, looked directly into the glare of the crowd, and took my first step forward.

Brandon stepped into my path, cutting me off.

His face was plastered with profound disappointment and finality.

"Serena, do you really want to take it this far?"

"For a house... are you really throwing away me, and this entire family?"

I stared at him, and suddenly, I burst out laughing.

I laughed so hard the tears finally spilled over.

"Brandon, the second your entire family decided to scheme against me, this stopped being my home."

"And you stopped being my husband."

I walked right past him, not glancing back for a single second.

Behind me, Eleanor's dramatic shrieks grew more hysterical, Chloe cursed my name, and Brandon sank into pathetic silence.

I kept moving.

The afternoon sun beat down on my shoulders, but inside, I felt nothing but ice.

I knew that starting today, it was war between me and the Vance family.