Chapter 5 - The Ambush
Julian was furious. Stripped of his home and his immediate access to cash, he was forced to move into his mother’s guest bedroom.
On Wednesday, despite the active restraining order, Julian and Beatrice showed up at Lily’s elementary school. They thought they could intercept me during pickup, intimidate me in the parking lot, and force me to drop the divorce proceedings.
I was walking Lily to my car when a black SUV screeched to a halt, blocking my exit. Julian jumped out, looking unhinged. His designer suit was wrinkled, and his eyes were bloodshot.
"Claire!" he yelled, marching toward us. "This has gone far enough! You froze my accounts! You ruined my mother's reputation! You are going to call the judge right now and fix this!"
Lily screamed, hiding behind my legs.
I didn't panic. I didn't engage. I just pulled out my phone and hit a speed dial number.
Two unmarked police cars, which had been parked across the street specifically monitoring the school per Victoria's request, immediately activated their sirens and swarmed the SUV.
"Julian Vance!" a detective shouted, drawing his taser. "Get on the ground! You are in violation of a protective order!"
Beatrice shrieked from the passenger seat, "He just wants to see his daughter! This woman is a liar!"
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Julian was shoved against the hood of his own car, handcuffed for the second time in a week.
"You violated a court order in front of a school, Julian," I said quietly, walking past him as he struggled against the officers. "You just handed me sole custody on a silver platter."
