Chapter 5 - Unraveling the Web
Robert unlocked the door and pulled it open with such force that it bounced against the interior bumper.
Eleanor stood on the threshold, a condescending smirk half-formed on her lips, but it vanished instantly when she saw the manila folder held in Robert’s shaking hands.
""Julian,"" Robert said. The single name dropped between them like an iron weight.
Eleanor’s eyes darted toward Dean Miller, then back to her husband. ""Robert, let's not make irrational assumptions—""
""You forged my signature on an official scholarship revocation,"" Robert snarled, his voice vibrating with a terrifying, contained fury. ""You told me Maya was squandering her mother's trust fund, while you were systematically looting her academic future to hand it to your sister’s son.""
""Julian earned that spot!"" Eleanor hissed, her composure finally shattering into raw hostility. ""Maya didn't even want it! She sat in her room sketching nonsense while Julian studied sixteen hours a day! Why should she waste an endowed chair that could actually build a career?""
""Because it belonged to my daughter!"" Robert roared.
Several students down the hall fell silent, turning their heads toward the commotion. Faculty members exchanged alarmed looks, but neither Robert nor Eleanor cared about appearances anymore.
""You took advantage of my grief,"" Robert said, his voice dropping into a register of icy realization. ""For four years, every time Maya and I had a misunderstanding, you were standing between us, whispering that she resented me, that she was pulling away. You cultivated every fight we ever had.""
""You were blind!"" Eleanor spat, abandoning all pretense. ""You spent four years buried in your company, mourning a ghost, leaving me to manage your difficult, ungrateful brat! I took what was necessary to secure my family's standing!""
""Get out,"" Robert said plainly.
Eleanor scoffed, crossing her arms. ""I am your wife. My name is on the trustee donor list tonight.""
""Not anymore,"" Dean Miller said quietly from behind the desk, picking up a school telephone. ""Campus security is on line one. Eleanor, you have three minutes to vacate the property before you are escorted off in handcuffs.""
Eleanor stared at the three of them, realization finally dawning that she had overplayed her hand. Without another word, she turned on her heel and strode down the corridor, her heels clicking aggressively against the linoleum.
Maya watched her stepmother vanish, but the relief she expected didn't come. Instead, she turned to face her father, whose shoulders slumped with profound exhaustion.
May you like
""Maya,"" Robert began, taking a step toward her.
""Don't,"" Maya said, backing away toward the lineup of graduates. ""You believed her, Dad. Even for ten minutes... you believed I was capable of that.""
