Chapter 2 - THE VEIL TORN AWAY
Eleanor staggered against the mahogany wardrobe, clutching her shoulder. Her immaculately styled gray-ing hair was slightly tousled, but her eyes held no fear, no regret—only a cold, razor-sharp malice.
"Arthur," Eleanor breathed, straightening her silk blouse with trembling, indignant hands. "How dare you lay your hands on your mother? You have no idea what this... this ungrateful creature was doing!"
"GET OUT!" Arthur bellowed, his broad fists clenched so hard his knuckles turned stark white. He didn't look back at Eleanor; his entire frame remained locked in a protective stance over Clara, who was curled in a fetal position on the floor, trembling violently.
"She is unfit, Arthur!" Eleanor shouted, her refined demeanor completely shattering, revealing the viper beneath. "Look at her! She can't even keep the infant quiet! She dropped the formula, she insulted my family name—I was instilling discipline! She is ruining your father’s legacy!"
Arthur slowly dropped to one knee, keeping his body positioned between Eleanor and his wife. He gently wrapped one massive arm around Clara, pulling her bleeding head against his chest. Clara buried her face in his olive shirt, her entire body shaking as she wept hysterically.
"Arthur... she took my keys..." Clara choked out through her sobs, her voice barely a whisper against his chest. "She locked the front door... she wouldn't let me feed her..."
Arthur’s heart stopped.
He lifted his eyes toward Eleanor. The grief in his red-rimmed eyes had vanished, replaced by an absolute, terrifying deadness.
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"You locked my wife in this room?" Arthur asked, his voice dropping into a dangerous, low rumble.
"I secured the household!" Eleanor snapped, taking a step forward, raising a manicured finger at her son. "You listen to me, Arthur Pendelton! This house was bought with your father's estate trust! Everything you have is because of my approval! If you don't throw this peasant girl out of my house tonight, I will strip you of every cent of the inheritance!"
