Chapter 1
Chapter 1
The Slap That Ended the Marriage
Arthur Blackwood had imagined many ways his marriage might end.
A quiet conversation.
A signed agreement across a polished conference table.
Months of growing apart until there was nothing left to save.
He had never imagined it would end with the sound of a child crying.
The moment he stepped through the front doors of Blackwood Manor, he knew something was wrong.
The mansion, usually filled with the soft rhythm of evening routines, had fallen unnaturally silent.
No laughter.
No music from the grand piano in the west lounge.
Not even the cheerful chatter of the kitchen staff preparing dinner.
Instead, he heard muffled sobbing.
Arthur immediately dropped his briefcase.
"Who's crying?"
No one answered.
The head butler lowered his eyes.
Two housemaids stood frozen near the staircase, their faces pale.
Arthur's heartbeat quickened.
"Talk to me."
One of the maids finally whispered.
"It's Miss Maya... and Master Leo."
Without another word, Arthur hurried toward the drawing room.
The sight that greeted him made him stop in the doorway.
Twelve-year-old Maya stood protectively in front of her younger brother.
Her left cheek was swollen and bright red.
Leo clung tightly to her sleeve, tears streaming down his face.
A broken porcelain vase lay scattered across the marble floor.
Standing several feet away was Victoria.
Elegant as always in a tailored emerald dress.
Perfect makeup.
Perfect hair.
Perfect posture.
As though nothing unusual had happened.
Arthur's voice became frighteningly calm.
"Who did this?"
Victoria didn't hesitate.
"I did."
The room seemed to shrink.
Arthur looked from Maya's injured face to Leo's trembling hands.
Then back to his wife.
"You hit them?"
"They deserved it."
Her tone was casual.
"They've been rude since this morning."
Maya shook her head through tears.
"We didn't do anything."
Victoria laughed.
"You spoke over me."
"I said I was sorry."
"You should have stayed silent."
Arthur walked slowly toward Maya.
He gently brushed a strand of hair away from her face.
A clear handprint marked her skin.
His jaw tightened.
He crouched beside Leo.
"What happened?"
The little boy struggled to speak.
"She... she called us ungrateful."
"And then..."
He looked at his sister.
"When Maya asked her to stop..."
His voice broke.
"She slapped her."
Maya quickly wiped away her tears.
"I told Leo to hide behind me."
Arthur looked at the bruise on Leo's arm.
"And this?"
Victoria folded her arms.
"He tried to run."
"So I grabbed him."
The room became completely silent.
Arthur stood.
Very slowly.
His expression revealed nothing.
That frightened the staff more than anger ever could.
He turned toward the maids.
"Did anyone see what happened?"
The younger maid hesitated.
Victoria shot her a warning glance.
Arthur noticed.
"You don't answer to anyone except the truth."
The maid took a deep breath.
"Mrs. Blackwood accused the children of disrespect."
"They apologized."
"She struck Miss Maya."
"When Master Leo cried..."
"She slapped him too."
Victoria scoffed.
"So now the servants are lying."
"No," Arthur replied quietly.
"They're finally telling the truth."
Victoria walked closer, irritation flashing across her face.
"Arthur, you're making a scene over two children."
"They're not your children."
"They're not mine."
"They're nobody."
The last word echoed through the room.
Nobody.
Arthur looked at Maya.
She lowered her eyes, clearly trying not to cry again.
Leo whispered,
"We didn't mean to upset her."
That sentence hurt Arthur more than anything else.
Children who believed they deserved violence learned that lesson from adults.
And he would not allow it under his roof.
He stepped toward Victoria.
"You owe them an apology."
Her eyes widened.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me."
She laughed in disbelief.
"I will never apologize to those two."
Arthur gave her one last chance.
"Victoria."
"No."
"They need discipline."
"What they needed..."
Arthur said quietly,
"...was an adult."
Without warning, Victoria reached toward Maya again.
"You've been pretending to be innocent since I walked inâ"
Arthur caught Victoria's wrist before her hand could reach the girl.
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"Don't."
She tried to pull free.
"Let go of me."
"You've already crossed one line."
"I'm your wife!"
"And they're children."
She raised her free hand as if to shove him away.
Arthur released her wrist.
Then, with one swift movement, he struck her across the cheek.
The sound echoed through the drawing room.
Victoria staggered backward, stunned.
For several seconds, no one moved.
She slowly lifted a hand to her face.
"You..."
Her voice trembled with disbelief.
"You hit me."
Arthur's expression remained unchanged.
"You assaulted two children."
"You chose violence."
"You don't get to act shocked when it reaches you."
Victoria's eyes filled with rage.
"You hit your own wife for these nobodies?"
Arthur looked directly at her.
"They are under my protection."
"That is all the reason I need."
She pointed a shaking finger at him.
"My father will destroy you."
"My family will ruin your reputation."
"You'll regret humiliating me."
Arthur calmly turned toward the head of security, who had just entered the room after hearing the commotion.
"Escort Mrs. Blackwood to the east guest house."
Victoria stared at him.
"What?"
"You are no longer welcome in the family residence."
"You can't throw me out!"
"I can."
"You have one hour to collect your personal belongings."
Her face turned pale.
"You wouldn't dare."
Arthur met her eyes.
"I've already called my attorney."
The room fell silent again.
Victoria searched his face, looking for hesitation.
She found none.
"This marriage..."
Arthur said,
"...ends tonight."
For the first time since the confrontation began, Victoria looked uncertain.
She had expected another argument.
Another apology.
Another compromise.
Instead, she watched the man she believed she controlled walk toward Maya and Leo.
Arthur knelt beside them.
He gently placed a reassuring hand on each of their shoulders.
"No one will ever hurt you in this house again."
Maya looked at him with tear-filled eyes.
"Are you sure?"
Arthur smiled softly.
"I'm sure."
Outside the mansion, thunder rolled across the evening sky.
As security escorted Victoria toward the guest house, her phone vibrated.
She answered immediately.
Her confident expression slowly disappeared.
A man's voice spoke only one sentence.
"Mrs. Blackwood..."
"We've identified the children's biological family."
Victoria frowned.
"So?"
The caller continued.
"You made a very serious mistake."
"What are you talking about?"
A long silence followed.
Then he said,
"The two children you assaulted this afternoon are the missing heirs to the Sterling family."
The phone slipped slightly in Victoria's hand.
For the first time that day...
She felt something she had never expected.
May you like
Fear.
End of Chapter 1
