Chapter 3 - THE PATRIARCH Arthur Vance stood in the doorway.
Silent.
Motionless.
Watching.
He had returned early from a business meeting because he wanted to surprise his granddaughter.
Instead, he had walked into the one conversation Victoria never wanted him to hear.
Maya was still crying.
Arthur's eyes moved slowly across the room.
The shattered bowl.
The spilled food.
Elena's trembling hands.
Victoria's frightened expression.
"Arthur..."
Victoria's voice cracked.
He didn't answer.
He walked forward.
His shoes echoed against the marble.
"I heard every word."
Victoria swallowed.
"You misunderstood."
"No."
Arthur's voice was quiet.
And somehow that was more frightening than shouting.
"I understood perfectly."
Victoria tried to smile.
"I was only trying to protect the estate."
Arthur looked at her.
"No. You were trying to protect yourself."
Elena's eyes filled with tears.
Arthur noticed.
His expression immediately softened.
"Give me my granddaughter."
Elena hesitated for half a second before placing Maya into his arms.
Arthur held the baby against his chest.
"It's all right, sweetheart."
Maya slowly stopped crying.
Arthur kissed the top of her head.
"Grandpa's here."
Victoria watched the scene with growing anger.
"You are destroying five years of marriage over an infant?"
Arthur turned toward her.
"You were never protecting my family."
He paused.
"You were feeding on it."
Victoria's face changed.
May you like
The elegant mask was gone.
And Arthur finally saw the woman underneath.
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