Chapter 7: The Desperate Ploy
The heavy iron gates of Arthur’s estate remained securely locked. Julian’s mother, Eleanor, stood in the pouring rain, clutching a designer umbrella that was doing little to keep her dry. She hammered her fist against the intercom, weeping openly into the security camera.
Inside the war room, Clara watched the live feed on a side monitor while reviewing asset liquidation charts.
"Clara, please!" Eleanor’s voice crackled through the speaker, thick with desperation. "You're destroying us! Think of the baby! Think of your child’s family!"
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Clara slowly reached forward and pressed the microphone button. "My child has a family," she said, her voice freezing the air in the room. "And forty-eight hours ago, you stood in a ballroom and watched Julian scream at me while I was on the floor. You didn't cry for me then, Eleanor."
Before Eleanor could utter another word, Clara severed the feed, plunging the exterior gate back into silent darkness.
