Chapter 6 - The Shattered Façade
Aunt Clara’s words hung in the air like a heavy hammer, shattering the remaining air of superiority in the hallway. Eleanor stood frozen near the parlor entrance, her arms clutching three-week-old Lily, her face turning as white as her pearls.
"Clara, don't be ridiculous," Eleanor stammered, attempting to maintain her regal composure. "It's just a misunderstanding... family chatter..."
"Family chatter?" Aunt Clara snapped, her sharp voice slicing through the silence as she handed the phone back to Nora. "You coordinated a staged physical assault in front of forty guests to commit perjury in a family court! If these screenshots reach a judge, Julian won't just lose custody—he'll be facing felony assault, conspiracy, and domestic abuse charges!"
Uncle Raymond stepped forward, his eyes wild with sudden realization. He rounded on Julian, his fists clenched at his sides. "You dragged us into a legal trap?! You used my presence in this house to fake evidence for your private war?!"
"Uncle Raymond, listen to me—" Julian panicked, backing up as several other relatives began murmuring in heated, angry tones.
"No, you listen to me!" Raymond shouted. "My firm represents three major state contracts! If my name is dragged into a fake testimony scandal because of your pathetic greed, I will ruin you, Julian!"
The forty guests who had sat silently minutes ago were now turning on each other. Whispers exploded into loud arguments. Cousins accused aunts of knowing about the plan, while uncles demanded to see the screenshots themselves. The pristine, untouchable reputation of the Vance family was fracturing from the inside out.
Amidst the roaring arguments, Nora walked straight toward Eleanor. She didn't shout. She didn't make a scene. She looked Eleanor dead in the eye and held out her arms.
"Give me my daughter," Nora commanded softly.
Eleanor pulled the baby closer, her jaw tightening. "You can't take her... you're in no condition—"
"Give me my child, Eleanor," Nora repeated, her tone so dark and unyielding that Eleanor instinctively flinched.
Aunt Clara stepped up beside Nora, glaring down at her sister. "Hand the baby over, Eleanor. Right now. Before I call the police to this house myself."
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With trembling hands, Eleanor surrendered the crying infant. The moment Lily was back in Nora’s arms, the baby’s frantic wails softened into small, shuddering hiccups as she buried her tiny face against her mother’s chest.
Nora wrapped her coat tightly around her daughter, turned her back on the chaos, and began walking toward the front doors.
