Chapter 2 - The $9,800 Reality
Eleanor snatched the paper from Arthur's hands, her polished manicured nails almost tearing the parchment.
Her eyes scanned the legal document, zooming straight to the highlighted section at the bottom.
PRIMARY LEASEHOLDER: Sarah Jenkins
MONTHLY RENT: $9,800.00
PAYMENT STATUS: TERMINATED BY TENANT (EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY)
"This... this is impossible!" Eleanor stammered, her regal posture collapsing into panic.
"Arthur pays the rent!"
"Arthur is the man of this household!"
Arthur buried his face in his hands, unable to look his mother in the eye.
"He hasn't paid a single dollar of rent in four years, Eleanor," I revealed, stepping toward the doorway.
"When his logistics firm failed, I covered the entire nine thousand eight hundred dollars every single month from my hospital salary."
"Arthur paid for the eggs, the milk, and the electric bill to keep up your precious illusion."
Eleanor turned to her son, her face morphing from shock into absolute horror.
"Arthur... tell her she’s lying!" Eleanor screamed.
"Tell me you didn't let a childless woman support you!"
Arthur didn't answer. His silence was a resounding confession.
"And there's one more detail you should know," I added, resting my hand on the doorknob.
"I spoke to the building management thirty minutes ago."
"I broke the lease."
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"If you want to stay in this empty apartment for even one more month, the landlord requires a security deposit of twenty thousand dollars by five o'clock today."
"Otherwise, the marshals will change the locks tomorrow morning."
