Chapter 3 - The Cold Reality Hits
The next morning, Kenneth woke up in his quiet, empty house on Thunderbird Road—or rather, the house he thought was his.
He sat at the kitchen island, his hands trembling violently as he tried to drink a cup of coffee. Beside him, Vanessa was pacing back and forth furiously, her designer heels clicking against the hardwood floor.
"You lied to me, Kenneth!" Vanessa shrieked, slamming her phone down on the counter. "You told me she was nobody! My father was planning to invest two hundred thousand dollars into your logistics firm based on the idea that you were marrying me and getting rid of a financial leech! Now I find out she’s a decorated military commander who gets saluted by three-star generals?!"
"I didn't know!" Kenneth yelled back, pulling at his hair in desperation. "She always wore plain civilian clothes at home! She drove an eight-year-old sedan! She worked late hours and said she was doing 'paperwork'! How was I supposed to know she was a Colonel?!"
"Because you're an idiot!" Vanessa spat. "If my father finds out about this public humiliation, he’ll pull his backing from your firm in a heartbeat!"
Before Kenneth could respond, his phone chimed with an official email notification.
He opened it, expecting a routine update from his bank. Instead, his breath caught in his throat. It was an urgent legal notice from Vance, Sterling & Associates—the top corporate and estate law firm in the state.
The document was signed by Harrison Vance, my primary estate attorney.
Dear Mr. Bradsdale,
Be advised that as of 08:00 hours today, formal divorce proceedings have been initiated on behalf of Colonel Sabrina Vance. Furthermore, please be advised that the residential property at 1420 Thunderbird Road is held under a private trust owned entirely by the late Roderick Fairview.
You are hereby served with a 72-Hour Notice to Vacate the premises. Failure to surrender the keys by Friday at 17:00 hours will result in immediate legal eviction and civil prosecution for unlawful detainer.
Kenneth dropped his phone. It hit the granite counter and cracked.
May you like
"What is it?" Vanessa asked, her voice tight with rising anxiety.
"The house..." Kenneth whispered, his face completely pale. "The house isn't mine. It belonged to her grandfather’s trust. She... she owns the house."
