Chapter 3 - An Unexpected Return
Elena had no idea that a sudden cancellation of an executive meeting had brought Raymond back to the villa much earlier than expected. Walking into the grand foyer, the piercing shriek from the second floor caught his ear. Raymond’s heart clenched, and he stormed up the stairs.
Click. The large wooden door swung open.
Raymond stepped inside, his familiar black briefcase tightly in hand. His elegant brown three-piece suit, which usually commanded respect, now only amplified his imposing and freezing aura.
Seeing her father, Lily felt as though she had found a lifeline. Gathering all her courage, she pointed a trembling finger at Elena and choked out through her sobs:
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"Open your eyes, Dad! She’s running a circus in your home, Dad!"
Elena froze. The fake smile she tried to force onto her face hardened into a grotesque mask. Her eyes widened to their absolute limits, her mouth agape in pure horror. Raymond—the husband she thought she had so perfectly manipulated—stood right before her, witnessing her true colors with eyes as cold as arctic ice.
