“What is this?” he asked, his voice barely a whisper.

“It’s a petition for divorce,” I said. “And a motion for temporary orders.”

Graham stared at me, his face blank with shock. “Divorce? Are you out of your mind? Now?”

Gloria let out a harsh, bitter laugh.

“I knew you were selfish, Jocelyn, but this is pathetic,” Gloria said, stepping toward me. “My son is facing a temporary liquidity crisis, and you run away?”

“It’s not temporary, Gloria,” I said, turning to look her dead in the eye. “And I’m not running.”

I pulled the second document from the envelope and laid it directly in front of Gloria.

This one was printed on heavy, blue-backed legal paper.

“This is an eviction notice,” I said.

Gloria stared at the document, her perfect manicured eyebrows drawing together.

“An eviction?” she sneered. “You can’t evict us from our own home.”

“It isn’t your home,” I said. “Bluebird Trust owns this property. And I own Bluebird Trust.”

The room went completely silent, save for the hum of the air conditioning and the rain outside.