Chapter 9
The remaining guests did not need another invitation to leave. A chaotic, panicked scramble ensued as the wealthy elites shoved their chairs aside, abandoning their expensive coats and half-eaten meals. They rushed toward the front doors, desperate to escape the blast radius of Aldric’s wrath.
Richard scrambled under the table, grabbed his weeping daughter Clara by the hand, and dragged her toward the exit without even looking back to help his sister off the floor.
"Richard! Don't leave me!" Heloise wailed, reaching a bloody, trembling hand toward her brother.
The heavy oak front doors slammed shut, echoing like a thunderclap through the cavernous foyer. The house was suddenly, terrifyingly quiet. Only Aldric, Thora, and the broken woman on the floor remained.
Aldric turned his back on Heloise entirely. He walked back to Thora, kneeling down once more to match her height. The fierce, intimidating aura that had driven the guests away vanished, replaced by a profound, aching tenderness.
"Are you okay, my brave girl?" Aldric asked, gently wiping a fresh tear from her unmarked cheek.
Thora nodded slowly. "Daddy, is the bad lady going to leave?"
"She is leaving right now," Aldric promised. "And she is never coming back. You will never have to wear this uniform again, and you will never sleep on the floor."
"What about my room?" Thora asked, her small voice trembling. "She threw all my toys in the garbage."
"Then we will buy a toy store tomorrow," Aldric said, offering her a warm, reassuring smile. He unbuttoned his tailored suit jacket and draped it over her small shoulders, covering the degrading maid’s uniform. The heavy, expensive wool enveloped her like a protective shield.
Behind them, Heloise was struggling to her feet. She leaned heavily against the mahogany table, leaving a smear of blood on the pristine white tablecloth. Her beautiful, elegant facade was completely destroyed, replaced by the desperate, feral look of a cornered animal.
"You think you've won, Aldric?" Heloise rasped, spitting a glob of blood onto the Persian rug. "You think you can just throw me out on the street with nothing?"
Aldric didn't look at her. He simply stood up, holding Thora’s hand securely in his own.
"You have five minutes to walk out that door," Aldric said, his voice flat and devoid of emotion. "If you are still inside this house when the clock strikes eight, I will have my security team physically drag you to the perimeter gate and leave you on the asphalt."
"I have lawyers!" Heloise screamed, her voice cracking into a hysterical shriek. "I know about the offshore accounts, Aldric! I know about the bribes you paid to the shipping unions! I will go to the FBI! I will burn your entire company to the ground!"
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Aldric finally turned his head. His cold, sharp eyes locked onto her bruised face. He did not look worried. He looked incredibly, terrifyingly bored.
"Go ahead," Aldric said softly. "Make the call."
