Chapter 3 - The Unraveling
The atmosphere in the room shifted from tension to absolute, suffocating silence. Richard watched the video, his knuckles turning white as he gripped his phone. Every frame felt like a dagger to his heart. He saw the woman he had intended to marry, the woman he had trusted with his most precious legacy, systematically breaking his children’s spirits.
Victoria saw the phone. She saw the video. The mask fell completely.
"They were weak, Richard," she hissed, her voice devoid of any warmth. "They were never going to fit into the life I planned for us. You’re a billionaire; you shouldn't be playing nursery games. I was going to make them 'resilient' before shipping them off. You should be thanking me."
Richard didn't scream. He didn't yell. He simply walked to the front door and opened it wide. "Security. Escort this woman out. If she steps within five miles of this property again, I will not call the police. I will destroy her family, her assets, and her reputation. I will make sure she spends the rest of her life paying for every tear these boys shed."
As Victoria was dragged away, cursing and screaming, Richard turned to Emily. The house suddenly felt like a tomb. The luxury, the marble floors, the expensive art—it all looked like a prison.
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"I fired you," Richard said, his eyes finally meeting hers. "I accused you of theft. I threw you out like trash. I don't expect you to stay. But I am begging you to help me fix this. Not for me. For them."
Emily looked at the triplets, who were clinging to her legs, their eyes wide and wary. She looked at Richard, seeing the cracks in his armor. "I will stay for the boys," she said, her voice steady. "But make no mistake, Richard. We are not friends. And you are no longer my employer. I am the only authority in this house that matters to these children until they are healed."
