Chapter 4 - The Viper Unmasked
In the opulent, marble-lined foyer of Hawthorne Manor, Victoria was pacing back and forth in her five-inch designer heels. She was admiring her reflection in the gilded mirror, adjusting her diamond necklace.
Finally, she thought to herself, a triumphant smile curving her painted red lips. That annoying, soft-hearted housekeeper is gone. Soon, those three miserable children will be out of the picture too, and every billion of Richard’s empire will be mine.
The heavy double doors swept open.
Richard walked into the foyer. His clothes were soaked from the rain, his dark hair plastered against his forehead, but his posture was terrifyingly rigid. Behind him stepped Marcus and four uniformed security officers.
"Richard, darling!" Victoria instantly transformed her expression into one of soft, gentle concern. She hurried toward him, extending her arms. "Did Marcus lock up that terrible girl? I hope the police are on their way to arrest Emily! To think we trusted her with our sweet boys—"
SLAP!
The force of the strike shattered the silence of the grand entrance.
Victoria gasped loudly, her head snapping to the side as she stumbled backward onto the polished marble, clutching her burning cheek. Her eyes widened in absolute shock as she looked up at Richard.
"R-Richard?!" she shrieked, her voice cracking. "Did you just strike me?! Are you insane?!"
"I ought to throw you off the cliff behind this house," Richard said, his voice dropping into a guttural growl that shook the crystal chandelier above them. "You disgusting, vile creature."
Victoria’s face turned pale, but she quickly tried to claw her way back. "Richard! What are you talking about?! She poisoned your mind! That housekeeper—"
Richard pulled out his tablet and tapped the screen. The speaker erupted with Victoria's recorded voice, loud and crystal clear:
"...make sure the gas line in the nursery is loosened. When the house goes up, Richard will be broken... and I’ll inherit the entire Hawthorne estate..."
Victoria’s eyes stretched wide with pure horror. The breath caught in her throat. The mask of elegance completely shattered, leaving behind the pale, ugly face of a exposed predator.
"You... how did you..." she stammered, scrambling backward on her hands and knees.
"My son Ethan brought me the drive you tried to destroy," Richard said, walking slowly toward her, his heavy leather shoes echoing against the floor. "My five-year-old son, whom you cut with glass. My boys, whom you locked in a dark room."
"Richard, please!" Victoria began to scream, scrambling toward his feet, tears of actual panic streaming down her face. "I was desperate! I did it for us! I wanted us to be a real family without those brats dragging you down! I love you!"
"You don't love anyone," a voice called out from the doorway.
Victoria turned her head.
Emily was standing at the entrance of the foyer, holding Ethan and Liam by their hands, while Noah stood close to her side with his arm neatly bandaged. Emily’s eyes were firm, filled with a quiet, powerful rage that Victoria had never seen before.
"You tried to hurt three innocent babies," Emily said, her voice trembling with righteous fury. "You are a monster, Victoria."
Outside, red and blue police lights began to flash wildly through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the pouring rain. The sirens wailed, echoing up the long estate driveway.
Six police officers burst through the front entrance, guns unholstered.
"Harrison Sterling! Victoria Sterling!" the lead detective barked, pulling out a pair of heavy steel handcuffs. "You are under arrest for attempted murder, conspiracy to commit arson, child abuse, and grand larceny!"
"Get your hands off me!" Victoria screamed hysterically as two officers pinned her arms behind her back, forcing her down onto her knees. "Do you know who I am?! Richard, tell them to stop! You can't do this to me! RICHARD!"
Richard didn't even look at her as she was dragged out into the pouring rain, her designer dress dragged through the mud, her frantic screams fading into the wailing siren lights.
When the heavy front doors finally closed, the grand foyer fell into a heavy, suffocating silence.
Richard turned around slowly.
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He looked at Emily. He looked at his three sons clinging to her dress.
And for the first time in his life, the arrogant, ruthless billionaire Richard Hawthorne felt his knees give out.
