Chapter 2 - The Tear on the Marble FloorSarah, the young maid, stood with her head bowed, her hands still trembling from the struggle. Her uniform was slightly wrinkled, and her knees felt weak.
As Victoria was dragged through the massive double doors, Alexander turned his attention entirely to Sarah. He stepped forward and did something that stunned every guest and staff member in the room: he bowed his head slightly in deep respect.
"Thank you, Sarah," Alexander said softly. "You stood up against wealth and arrogance to protect a woman who couldn't stand on her own feet."
May you like
Tears finally spilled over Sarah’s eyelashes, dropping onto the cold marble floor. "She is your mother, Sir. Even if she weren't... no one deserves to be treated like that."
The elderly woman, Eleanor Hawthorne, reached out with a thin, frail hand and gently squeezed Sarah’s wrist. "You have the heart of a true Hawthorne, child," Eleanor whispered.
Related Stories
Chapter 3 - The Secret Inside the WoodLater that evening, after the stunned guests had departed, the mansion fell into a peaceful quiet. Alexander sat in the warm lighting of the study alongside his mother and Sarah.
Chapter 4 - Victoria’s Desperate MoveMeanwhile, in a luxury apartment downtown, Victoria was pacing frantically across her living room. Her contract with the Hawthorne Corporation had been dissolved instantly, wiping out millions in projected revenue for her family's firm.
Chapter 5 - The Morning AfterThe next morning, news outlets were flooded with sensational headlines. Victoria had leaked a twisted version of the story to the tabloids, claiming she was assaulted by Hawthorne Mansion staff and wrongfully terminated over a minor misunderstanding.
Chapter 6 - A New RoleEleanor chuckled softly from her wheelchair at the end of the table. "Oh, my dear child, no. You are being promoted."
Chapter 7 - The Poisoned PenVictoria’s media campaign reached a boiling point three days later. She held a live press conference in front of the city's main financial center, posing as a victim of corporate bullying.
Chapter 8 - The Unveiling of the TruthAt 2:00 PM that afternoon, the Hawthorne Corporation held its own emergency press conference. Hundreds of journalists crammed into the auditorium, expecting Alexander to offer a formal apology or a quiet settlement.
