Chapter 7 - The Escape and the Ultimatum
"Nora! Stop!" Julian roared, shoving past his uncle and sprinting down the grand foyer after her.
He caught up to her at the heavy double mahogany front doors, slamming his hand against the glass panel to block her exit. His eyes were bloodshot, his tie loosened, his polished mask completely destroyed.
"You are not leaving this house with my daughter!" Julian hissed, his breath hot against her ear. "You think a few stolen screenshots give you power? I have ten attorneys on retainer, Nora! I own this estate! I own everything you touch! You leave through that door, and I will make sure you don't have a single dollar to your name by morning!"
Nora slowly turned her head, looking at the man she had married, feeling nothing but cold, absolute disgust.
"I don't care about your money, Julian," Nora said, her voice dropping into a razor-sharp whisper. "And your ten attorneys won't be able to protect you from what comes next."
She raised her phone, tapping the screen once to reveal a sent message interface.
"Ten minutes ago," Nora explained smoothly, "I uploaded the raw chat logs, the timestamps, and the security system export to my attorney, the county District Attorney's special victims unit, and two major investigative journalists in Boston. If I am stopped from leaving this driveway tonight, a press release goes out at midnight naming every single Vance family member involved in this conspiracy."
Julian’s face drained of all color. He pulled his hand back from the door as if the wood had suddenly caught fire. "You... you wouldn't destroy my family..."
"You destroyed yourself the moment you put your hands on my hair," Nora replied coldly.
May you like
She pushed open the heavy front door, stepping out into the cool, rain-slicked night air. Waiting at the bottom of the driveway was a black SUV—her sister Clara’s vehicle, idling with its headlights cutting through the fog.
Nora didn't look back once as she walked down the stone steps, holding Lily tight against her heart.
