Chapter 2 - The Cruel Bargain
Arthur freezes immediately at the sight of the small glass vial.
His fists are clenched so tightly that his knuckles turn entirely white.
"Give me the antidote right now, Victoria," Arthur growls with pure hatred.
Victoria laughs softly as she descends the remaining marble stairs.
She looks down at Helena, who is gasping for air on the expensive rug.
"I have tolerated this disgusting arrangement for seventeen years," Victoria says smoothly.
"I allowed your precious true love to live in my house as a lowly servant," she sneers.
The boys look back and forth between the adults in total horror.
"Dad, what is she talking about?" Leo shouts frantically.
"Helena is your biological mother," Arthur finally confesses with a breaking voice.
Both boys stagger backward as if they have been physically struck.
The maid who always baked them cookies and wiped their tears was their real mother all along.
"You lied to us our entire lives!" Sam yells, tears streaming down his face.
Victoria rolls her eyes and taps her manicured nails against the glass vial.
"Enough of this touching family reunion," Victoria interrupts sharply.
"The poison shutting down her organs is extremely fast," she explains with an evil smile.
"She has exactly five minutes left before her heart stops forever," Victoria adds.
Arthur falls to his knees and looks up at his cruel wife.
"What do you want from me?" Arthur begs in absolute desperation.
Victoria pulls a thick legal document from her designer handbag.
"I want complete ownership of the global shipping company," Victoria demands.
"Sign this contract transferring all your shares to me, or she dies today," she states clearly.
Arthur does not even hesitate for a single second.
He grabs the gold pen from his jacket pocket and aggressively signs his name on the dotted line.
He throws the signed contract at Victoria's expensive shoes.
"I signed it, now give me the damn cure!" Arthur roars.
Victoria picks up the contract and checks the signature carefully.
A terrifying, malicious grin spreads across her perfectly painted lips.
"Thank you for your business, darling," Victoria whispers.
Then, she deliberately opens her fingers and drops the glass vial.
May you like
The vial shatters against the hardwood floor, spilling the precious blue liquid everywhere.
Arthur screams in pure agony as Victoria turns around and walks calmly out the front door.
