Chapter 2: The Shattered Illusion
The dust from the shattered chair was still settling when Julian dropped the jagged wooden leg left in his hands. He stood over the piano, his chest heaving, staring at the woman he thought he knew.
Victoria slowly pushed herself up from the wreckage. A thin line of blood trickled down her forehead where a splinter had grazed her, but instead of cowering, a chilling, twisted smile spread across her red-painted lips.
"You always were too sentimental, Julian," she whispered, her voice devoid of the panic she had shown seconds prior.
"You tried to kill him," Julian choked out, his voice trembling with a mixture of rage and profound betrayal. "You threw my son."
"He was an obstacle," Victoria stated coldly, stepping away from the ruined Steinway. "And in this family, obstacles are removed. Did you really think my father would let your bastard child inherit the Vanguard Corporation? You're a fool."
On the floor, Elara scrambled to her feet, holding the wailing baby tight. "Mr. Sterling, we need to leave. Now."
Julian turned, his eyes darting to the maid. He had barely noticed Elara over the past six months, but the lethal calm in her voice now commanded the room.
The heavy thud of combat boots echoed in the hallway outside.
"They're already here," Victoria laughed, wiping the blood from her brow, smearing it across her porcelain skin. "My father's men. You don't leave this house alive, Julian. Neither does the mistake."
May you like
"Stay behind me," Elara ordered Julian.
Before Julian could process the fact that his maid was issuing tactical commands, Elara reached under her starched apron and produced a suppressed sleek black Glock 19.
