PART 2: THE LIQUIDATION OF CITIZENSHIP
PART 2: THE LIQUIDATION OF CITIZENSHIP
Before Ethan could even draw his next breath, the dull roar of the storm was completely eclipsed by the heavy rhythm of synchronized engines.
Five massive, jet-black SUVs turned the corner of the quiet cul-de-sac in a tight, military formation, their heavy tires cutting through the pooling water with precise force.
They didn't park; they formed a perfect, defensive semi-circle around the driveway, completely blocking Ethan’s luxury sedan.
The doors opened simultaneously.
Ten men in dark, identical tailored suits stepped into the downpour, holding large black umbrellas. At the center of the formation stood William Bennett, his silver hair immaculate despite the wind, his eyes carrying the terrifying, calm focus of a man who owned the banks that held the neighborhood’s master mortgages.
Beside him stood Arthur Vance, the state’s most ruthless corporate liquidation attorney, clutching a waterproof silver briefing case.
"Olivia," William said, his deep voice slicing through the rain as two bodyguards immediately stepped forward to shield her and her suitcase from the storm.
Diane Carter grabbed the porch railing so tightly her knuckles turned white, her jaw dropping as her previous high-society arrogance completely dissolved into a mask of pure, visceral panic. "William... Mr. Bennett... this is an internal family matter. We had no idea—"
"You have no family, Diane," Arthur Vance interrupted, stepping past her onto the porch without asking permission. He flipped open the silver case, pulling out a red-stamped corporate ledger.
"Ethan," Arthur said, looking directly at the pale, sweating young man. "The investment fund you manage, Carter Financial, relies entirely on a capital credit line from the Bennett Group’s commercial bank. As of three minutes ago, that credit line has been permanently terminated for ethical violations and material misrepresentation."
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Ethan’s duffel bag dropped heavily from his hand, hitting the wet stone with a dull thud. "You can't do that. The board—"
"The board is currently being disassembled by the Securities and Exchange Commission, Ethan," Olivia said, standing tall beneath her umbrella, her voice completely calm and level. "I didn't just wash your dishes for three years. I monitored your compliance logs."
