Chapter 13 - The Morning After
The morning sun rose cold and crisp over the Connecticut countryside, illuminating the quiet estate.
The dining room was empty, the cake stains scrubbed clean, and the painting of the American flag hung straight on the wall once more.
Clara sat at the mahogany table, sipping black coffee while wearing a clean white wool sweater.
Mark sat across from her, his charcoal shirt wrinkled, dark circles ringing his tired eyes.
"The board meets at ten," Mark said softly, staring into his cold mug.
"I know," Clara replied. "The proxy votes have already been registered in Lily's name."
"What happens to me, Clara?" Mark asked, looking up at her with hollow, desperate eyes. "Am I losing my daughter too?"
Clara set her coffee cup down, her expression firm yet devoid of petty malice.
"You lost your right to be a decision-maker the moment you stood by and let your mother smear cake into our daughter's face," Clara stated flatly.
"I was terrified of her!" Mark confessed, his voice breaking into a sob. "She controlled everything my whole life!"
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"Then it's time you grew up, Mark," Clara said, standing up from the table. "Because starting today, I control everything."
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