CHAPTER 2 — THE FOOTAGE
CHAPTER 2 — THE FOOTAGE
Eleanor's smile never reached her eyes.
"Oh, William," she said warmly. "You came home early."
He didn't answer.
Instead, he walked past her and knelt beside Chloe.
His hands were steady.
"Can you look at me?"
Tears slid down Chloe's face.
"My hip..."
She struggled to breathe.
"The baby kicked after I fell."
William gently brushed a strand of hair away from the cut on her cheek.
"Don't move."
He removed his phone.
"Call an ambulance," he instructed one of the servants.
No one moved.
The room remained frozen beneath Eleanor's stare.
William slowly looked up.
"I wasn't asking."
Maria immediately hurried toward the telephone.
For the first time in years...
She ignored Eleanor.
Paramedics arrived within minutes.
As they carefully lifted Chloe onto a stretcher, William turned to the head of household security.
"Bring me the dining room footage."
Eleanor laughed softly.
"William, honestly."
"There are no cameras in this room."
"There are now."
The security supervisor connected a tablet to the home's surveillance system.
A red recording icon appeared.
Timestamp.
Date.
Crystal-clear video.
The footage began.
No sound.
It didn't need any.
Everyone watched as Eleanor slapped Chloe.
Watched her yank the orthopedic chair away.
Watched Chloe crash onto the marble floor.
Watched Eleanor kick the chair across the room.
Not a single frame supported Eleanor's story.
The room became unbearably quiet.
William looked at the screen once.
May you like
Then locked it.
He didn't need to see it twice.
