Chapter 3: Reclaiming Her Property & Evicting the Parasites

The heavy autumn rain turned the pristine glass facade of the Sovereign Heights Residential Tower into a blurred silver sheet. Located in Sector 4’s most affluent district, the high-rise was a monument to luxury—and for the last two years, every single cent of its $8,500 monthly rent had come directly from Maya’s sweat and blood.

In her past life, Maya had lived in a cramped, drafty studio apartment near the industrial docks while funding this exact four-bedroom penthouse for Adrian, his ungrateful mother Beatrice, and eventually, his mistress Vanessa. Beatrice had claimed her "weak heart" couldn't handle low-rise air quality, while Adrian had insisted he needed a prestigious address to "build corporate connections."

Maya stepped out of the rear passenger seat of a black, bulletproof armored SUV.

She wore a sleek dark leather trench coat, her black hair pulled back into a high, flawless ponytail. Behind her stood six muscular men in tactical Vance Security uniforms, their faces stern and unyielding.

"Miss Vance," the captain of the security detail, stepped forward, holding an umbrella over her head. "The building manager and the master locksmith are waiting in the lobby. The lease termination papers have been filed, and the landlord has officially authorized your total repossession."

"Good," Maya said, her voice smooth and freezing cold. "Throw out everything that wasn't bought with my direct account transfers. If it belongs to them, put it where parasites belong—on the street."

Inside Penthouse 18A, soft classical music hummed through integrated ceiling speakers.

Beatrice sat comfortably on an Italian leather sofa, sipping imported hot tea while wearing a silk robe Maya had bought her last Christmas. Across the glass coffee table, Vanessa was happily unboxing a series of knockoff luxury bags, trying them on in front of a floor-to-ceiling mirror.

"Mom, Adrian said he's going to make Maya apologize by tonight," Vanessa giggled, admiring a cheap synthetic tote bag. "He said she’s just throwing a tantrum because he hasn't proposed yet. She'll be back on her knees crying for him by dinner."

Beatrice took a slow sip, snorting with disdain. "That orphan girl has no manners anyway. Did you see how she hit my Adrian at the hotel? Disgusting! Once she comes crawling back, I'm going to make her cook three meals a day for us as punishment. And she better buy me my knee medication first!"

BAM!

The heavy mahogany front door didn't just open—it shattered inward as Vance Security cut the digital deadbolts with an industrial override key and kicked the frame wide open.

Beatrice shrieked, dropping her tea glass onto the Persian rug. Vanessa leaped off the sofa, clutching her fake handbag to her chest.

"What is the meaning of this?!" Beatrice screamed, her voice shrill and trembling. "Burglars! Call the police! Adrian!"

Maya stepped through the doorway, her boots leaving quiet, wet prints on the polished marble floor. Her green eyes swept over the living room, taking in the imported furniture, the expensive appliances, and the sheer luxury these two bloodsuckers had enjoyed while she starved.

"There's no need to call the police, Mrs. Miller," Maya said, her voice dripping with venomous amusement. "I am the police here today."

Vanessa’s face turned pale. "Maya?! Are you insane?! You broke into Adrian's home! You can't just—"

"Adrian's home?" Maya chuckled, a dark, terrifying sound that made the hairs on Vanessa's neck stand up. She pulled the master lease document from her coat pocket and tossed it onto the glass table. "Look at the master contract, you illiterate leach. My name is on the lease. My bank account pays the landlord. As of five minutes ago, I canceled the lease, paid the early breach f*e, and took total control of this property."

Two locksmiths immediately stepped past Maya, armed with power drills. Within thirty seconds, they stripped the smart lock from the door, replacing it with an encrypted military-grade biometric scanner.

"You... you can't cancel the lease!" Beatrice yelled, scrambling to her feet, her face flushing a dangerous shade of red. "Where are we supposed to live?! My heart condition—"

"I don't care if your heart stops beating right now, Beatrice," Maya interrupted, her gaze locked onto the old woman like a predator staring at prey. "You've sucked my blood for two years. Today, the host is cutting off the parasite."

Maya waved her hand casually toward the bedrooms. "Clear it out."

The six Vance Security guards moved with terrifying efficiency. They didn't pack nicely. They grabbed wardrobes, luggage, and drawer units, dumping their contents straight into giant black plastic heavy-duty trash bags.

"Hey! Put that down! That's my designer dress!" Vanessa shrieked, lunging at a guard who was dragging three giant sacks out toward the balcony.

The guard didn't even look at her; he simply shifted his shoulder, sending Vanessa sprawling onto the floor.

Maya walked over to Vanessa, stopping right beside her trembling frame. She looked down at the pile of fake luxury bags and synthetic jewelry scattered around Vanessa's feet. Maya picked up a bright pink knockoff handbag with her gloved hand, holding it up between two fingers like a piece of garbage.

"Is this what you traded your dignity for, Vanessa?" Maya sneered softly, tossing the bag toward the open elevator shaft outside. "Cheap fakes for a cheap woman."

"Maya, please!" Beatrice broke down, weeping loudly as her old coats and medicine bottles were stuffed into trash bags. "We have nowhere to go! Adrian is still at the auto shop trying to get his car back! Just give us until tomorrow!"

"Tomorrow?" Maya tilted her head, her smile cold and completely devoid of human warmth. "I wouldn't give you two seconds."

The guards dragged Beatrice and Vanessa down the private elevator, hauling the thirty black trash bags behind them.

Down in the residential driveway, rain poured down in heavy, relentless streams. High-society neighbors stood under the building's awning, whispering and taking videos on their phones as the penthouse security team began the final eviction phase.

SWISH! SPLASH!

Guards unceremoniously dumped all thirty trash bags onto the flooded pavement right in front of the lobby entrance. Synthetic dresses, cheap makeup, old shoes, and Beatrice's scattered pill bottles spilled out into the muddy, rain-drenched gutters.

Beatrice sat on the curb in her soaked silk robe, wailing hysterically as neighbors pointed and laughed. Vanessa scrambled through the mud, desperately trying to save her fake dresses from being ruined by oil-slicked rainwater.

Right at that moment, a battered yellow taxi screeched to a halt at the curb.

Adrian tumbled out, soaked to the bone, having taken a bus and a cab after Maya revoked his car key and froze his credit access. He stared in absolute horror at the scene in front of him: his mother crying in the mud, his mistress drenched in trash water, and all their belongings floating down the driveway.

"Mom! Vanessa!" Adrian roared, rushing over. "What happened?!"

"Adrian!" Beatrice sobbed, grabbing his soaked pants. "It's Maya! That evil witch kicked us out! She canceled the lease and threw us into the rain!"

Adrian’s head snapped up.

Maya stood at the top of the grand marble entrance stairs, completely dry under a large black umbrella held by her security captain. Her sleek leather coat caught the yellow glow of the streetlamps, making her look like a dark queen judging peasants from above.

Adrian sprinted up the stairs, his face twisted in rage, his fists clenched. "MAYA! ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MINDS?! MY MOTHER IS SICK! HOW DARE YOU THROW HER STUFF INTO THE DIRT?!"

He raised his hand, charging forward as if to grab her collar.

Before he could get within two feet, the security captain stepped forward, pulled an electric stun baton from his belt, and jammed it square into Adrian’s chest.

BZZZZZZT!

A high-voltage crackle echoed through the rain.

Adrian’s eyes rolled back. His body stiffened like a board before he collapsed backward, crashing hard onto the wet stairs and rolling all the way down until his head hit the mud right next to his mother’s soaked slippers.

Maya walked slowly down the steps, her heels clicking against the wet stone. She stopped right above Adrian, who was twitching weakly in the mud, gasping for air as smoke faintly rose from his jacket.

Maya bent down, her face inches from his.

"Listen to me carefully, Adrian," she whispered, her voice carrying an icy razor edge that made his blood run cold. "In the past, I gave you my heart, and you treated it like dirt. Now, you, your mother, and your mistress are going to live in the dirt."

She stood up, pulling a white silk handkerchief from her pocket, casually wiping a speck of rainwater from her leather glove before tossing the cloth directly onto Adrian’s face.

"Don't ever knock on my door again," Maya declared, her voice echoing clearly for all the recording neighbors to hear. "Because the next time you see me, you'll be begging on your knees for a crust of dry bread."

She turned around, stepped into her bulletproof SUV, and slammed the heavy door shut.

The engine roared to life, splashing a wave of muddy gutter water directly over Adrian, Vanessa, and Beatrice as it sped away into the stormy night.

Inside the quiet sanctuary of the armored vehicle, Maya tapped her phone screen.

[COUNTDOWN TO APOCALYPSE: 28 DAYS, 00 HOURS]

[NEXT TARGET: $20M WHOLESALE GRAIN & MEAT SWEEP]

Maya looked out the tinted window at the glowing neon lights of Sector 4. The parasites had been thrown into the mud. Now, it was time to build her empire.