Chapter 1 - The Broken Banquet
Julian stood motionless in the opulent dining hall, his knuckles whitening around the silver base of the cake stand. He looked at Amy, drenched in sweat, holding a stack of dirty porcelain plates while their four-month-old son, Leo, whimpered against her chest inside the strap carrier. The baby’s cheeks were flushed crimson with fever. Amy’s knees trembled beneath her modest dress, her lower lip trembling with humiliation.
""Julian, please,"" Amy whispered, barely keeping her balance. ""He is so hot to the touch.""
Eleanor Vance, matriarch of the family, merely raised her crystal glass, taking a measured sip of red wine. Her silk dress was pristine, her eyes devoid of warmth. ""A host does not abandon her guests before the final course, Julian. She knew our standards before marrying into this family.""
Julian set the cake down on the mahogany table with an echoing thud. Without a second thought, he relieved Amy of the heavy plates, discarding them unceremoniously on the lace cloth, causing silverware to clatter violently. The wealthy dinner guests fell into dead silence.
""You made her carry plates with a sick child strapped to her?"" Julian’s voice dropped to a terrifying register. ""My wife is not your housemaid, Mother.""
""She married above her station; she should at least learn how to serve,"" Eleanor sneered, not backing down.
Julian turned to Amy, wrapping his arm around her shaking shoulders. ""Pack your bags, Amy. We are leaving right now. We are going straight to the hospital.""
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Eleanor laughed coldly from behind her wine glass. ""Step out of this estate tonight, Julian, and don't expect a single dollar or your inheritance tomorrow.""
Julian paused by the arched mahogany doorway, feeling Leo’s labored breaths through the sling, and realized Eleanor had already signaled two estate security guards blocking the exit.
