Chapter 58
Chapter 58:
“Step back from the gate,” the lead guard ordered. His voice was flat, professional, and terrifying.
Jessica froze. “We… we’re visiting a friend p>
“Name?” the guard asked, pulling out a clipboard.
“Skye Sterling,” Jessica said triumphantly. “She just went in p>
The guard checked his list. “Ms. Sterling is a resident owner. You are not on her guest list. Leave. Now p>
“Resident?” Tiffany gasped. “She owns a place here p>
Just then, another taxi pulled up. Seraphina Miller stumbled out. She looked disheveled, her eyes red-rimmed. She had clearly rushed over the moment Jessica texted her the location.
Seraphina saw Skye standing just inside the gate, waiting. Skye was leaning against a marble pillar, looking at her watch. Seraphina ran to the gate. She gripped the iron bars like a prisoner.
“Skye!” Seraphina wailed. It was a loud, theatrical sob that echoed off the stone walls.
Passersby stopped. A woman walking her poodle paused to watch.
“Please!” Seraphina screamed, dropping to her knees on the pavement. The concrete scraped her skin, but she didn’t flinch. She needed the pain to sell the performance. “Please, just give him back! Stop spending his money p>
“What is going on?” the woman with the poodle whispered.
“That girl is spending her boyfriend’s money,” Tiffany loudly explained to the bystander, panning her camera to Seraphina. “She stole him, and now she’s living in luxury while his real girlfriend suffers p>
Seraphina looked up, tears streaming down her face. “Skye, please! Liam is working himself to death to pay for this place! How can you be so selfish? You’re bleeding him dry p>
It was a compelling story. The poor, heartbroken girlfriend begging the greedy mistress.
𝖯D𝗙ѕ оո b𝖾𝗅𝗻o𝗏е𝗹s.с𝗼𝘮
Skye sighed. She walked closer to the gate. She looked down at Seraphina through the bars.
“Are you done?” Skye asked.
“Give me back my life!” Seraphina sobbed.
Skye turned to the head of security. “Officer, for the record, who holds the deed to Unit 4B p>
The guard consulted his tablet, though he clearly already knew. He projected his voice for the onlookers.
“Unit 4B is held by The Sterling Family Trust. It was purchased ten years ago by the late Mrs. Eleanor Sterling. The probate hold was lifted just this week. The sole beneficiary is Skye Sterling p>
Skye turned back to the crowd that had gathered. Her voice was clear and projected well.
“Did you hear that? Purchased ten years ago by my mother. Before I even met Liam Kensington p>
The woman with the poodle gasped. “It’s her inheritance p>
“But…” Seraphina’s sobbing hitched. She looked up, confusion warring with her act. “That’s impossible. You’re broke. Liam cut you off p>