Eliza scoffed. "Illegal means? You all like to jump to conclusions and throw around accusations without concrete proof."
"Proof? What other proof do we need? Your husband can barely afford to take care of himself or you. That's why we let you stay here out of pity. And he hasn't been able to work for several months because of his mental condition. You've been working, but you don't fare any better. So how could any of you possibly afford the company shares. A controlling interest of fifty one percent costs approximately twenty to thirty million dollars to purchase. Do you think that kind of money grows on trees?"
"My husband got me those shares as a gift because he knew how untrustworthy you all are. I won his challenge fair and square, yet Grandfather refused to grant me the ten percent shares that should be mine. Isn't that considered fraud? Yet you're here ranting about shares that were legally purchased instead of speaking on that?"
"Why would I trust your word over my husband? He says they're illegal, and I believe it. You're just a waste of all the resources we spent on training you, trying to make you a better fit for society. You…"
"You should learn to have a mind of your own, mother. Instead of being a pawn for every man in your life. First, your father made you marry a man you didn't even want. Now you let that same man control all you do, to the point that you don't even have an opinion for yourself. He says jump, and you say how high without question. You're here fighting for a company where you don't even have shares. Grandfather never saw you as important enough to add your name to the family allocation, the same way he stole Grandma's shares from me, and you let him. Grandma did most of the work in building the company in the first place, and you let them run it down, backing them even when it was clear I was the better candidate for management. It's pitiful." Eliza said, and her mother scoffed in outrage.
"No matter what you say, you are not stepping another foot into this house, especially when your father and the others have not arrived yet. If you settle your issues with them, stop this madness, and apologise sincerely, maybe we'll take you back."
"Why would I want to come back to you? And why should I apologise when I've done nothing wrong? You should be the ones apologising to me. In fact, at this moment, I hold all the cards. So you should all be more careful while speaking to me. Let me pass."
"Absolutely not!"
She had been preoccupied while talking to her mother that she hadn't noticed the arrival of the others. It was her grandfather who had shouted that at her before he even stepped out of the car.
"Don't worry, I don't want to spend another day living here anyway. I'll figure something out with my husband. But I need to pack our belongings, and then we'll leave." She replied to him.
"You want to be let in to pack, so you can steal things in the process?" Marco sneered and she laughed.
"There's nothing to steal, Marco. We live in the least desirable room in the servant's quarters. If you don't let me through, I will make a call to the Crestview Group executives right in front of you, and tell them that I'm backing out of the deal. Without me, they won't sign the contract at the next meeting. In fact, there will be no next meeting if I withdraw from this. So choose wisely. Is this the hill you're willing to die on?"
She asked and there was silence for several seconds, until her grandfather finally spoke through gritted teeth.
"Let them pass. But make sure they're watched at all times. They must not leave with anything that belongs to me."
"Don't worry. We don't have much to pack. We'll be out of your hair in twenty minutes, tops." Eliza smiled and got back into the car with Alrik.
"They're like a broken record. It's the same old tactics, trying to control me by depriving me of something. First it was work, then proper shelter, then good food, now shelter. Did they think it would work this time, when it didn't work to break my spirit when I had nothing? I have you now, and a new job. They really thought I would grovel at their feet when they have nothing I even want? It's crazy. I'm ashamed to have that bloodline flowing through my veins." She said and he held her hands.
"No. Your family might be despicable, but there is no part of you that should bear shame for it. You are amazing, and honestly, I don't deserve you. Most women in your shoes would have given up on me, and others would never trust me again. You're stronger, and better than them in every aspect. Don't sell yourself short."
His response made her smile, and the car stopped for them to step out.
"Okay, where do we start from? What do you want me to pack first?" He asked her, and she chuckled.
"You didn't even seem surprised when they told us we needed to leave."
"Of course not. Like you said, they have the same old tactics. Just the same way I knew they would definitely try to cheat you out of your ten percent share price, I also assumed they would kick us out soon. And I've already made preparations for our new home. I hope you'll like it, but you can redecorate it anyhow you want. I'm sure you'll have much to do when you see it. I've only seen it in pictures."
They packed only necessary items. Alrik informed her she would be going shopping soon, so she had no need for her old set of clothes and accessories. A different car, an SUV this time came to pick them up while the other car drove away since it was too small to carry the packed bags.
"You've drawn a line in the sand. You will soon see the consequences of that." Those were Alrik's last words as they drove out of the compound.