Chapter 6 - Handcuffs in Marble
The grand sitting room was completely silent except for the frantic, shallow gasps coming from Evelyn’s throat.
She looked around the room like a cornered animal, realizing for the first time in her pampered life that money and beauty could no longer protect her.
"Julian... sweetheart... please, let me explain," Evelyn whimpered, dropping to her knees on the bloody marble floor.
"I was under so much stress! You were always away, leaving me to manage this massive estate all by myself!" she sobbed, crawling toward him.
"I had a nervous breakdown! It was postpartum depression from the miscarriage two years ago, you remember!" she cried, fabricating any excuse she could invent.
"I need therapy, Julian! I don't belong in a jail cell with criminals! I need medical help, darling!" she begged, trying to reach for the hem of his trousers.
Julian stepped back, his expression entirely devoid of mercy, pity, or love.
"Do not dare use our lost child to justify your sadistic cruelty," Julian said, his voice flat, icy, and lethal.
"You didn't have a nervous breakdown, Evelyn," Julian continued, staring down at her with pure disgust.
"You enjoyed every single second of torturing a defenseless old woman because it made you feel powerful," he said.
Detective Vance unclipped a pair of heavy, stainless-steel handcuffs from his tactical utility belt.
The sharp, metallic clicks echoed with terrible finality across the high ceilings of the foyer.
"Evelyn St. Claire, you are under arrest for attempted murder in the second degree, felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and felony elder abuse," Detective Vance announced.
"No! Get your dirty hands off me!" Evelyn screamed, thrashing wildly as two patrol officers seized her arms and forced them behind her back.
The cold steel ratcheted tightly around her slender, manicured wrists.
"Julian! Tell them to stop! You are the most powerful man in this county, make one phone call!" Evelyn shrieked, her face turning purple with rage.
"I will make a phone call, Evelyn," Julian replied calmly, checking his gold wristwatch.
"I am calling Arthur Sterling, the most ruthless corporate and divorce litigator in the United States," Julian announced.
"By tomorrow morning, every single joint bank account bearing your name will be permanently frozen," Julian said, his words landing like hammer blows.
"Your luxury vehicle leases will be terminated, your designer wardrobe will be packed into trash bags, and you will not receive a single penny of my wealth," Julian stated.
"I have a prenuptial agreement that guarantees me half of everything if we separate!" Evelyn screamed, spitting in fury as the officers dragged her toward the foyer.
"Read the infidelity and criminal conduct clause in subsection twelve, Evelyn," Julian said with chilling precision.
"Any physical violence or felony conviction completely nullifies your entitlement to even one red cent of the St. Claire estate," Julian informed her.
"You will leave this marriage with absolutely nothing except the prison uniform the state issues you," Julian said.
Evelyn began kicking and screaming profanities, her polished socialite veneer completely disintegrating into gutter-level rage.
"I hate you! I hate your pathetic mother! I should have finished her off months ago!" Evelyn shrieked as the officers dragged her out the front double doors.
The heavy front doors slammed shut behind her, cutting off her shrill screams and restoring an eerie, hollow quiet to the mansion.
Julian stood alone in the center of the vast entrance hall, looking down at the dark pool of his mother’s blood on the marble.
Beside him, Maria stood with her head bowed, clutching her bruised arm.
Julian turned to the brave housekeeper, his eyes swimming with profound gratitude and unspeakable sorrow.
"Maria," Julian choked out, his voice cracking.
"Yes, Mr. St. Claire?" she answered softly.
"You saved my mother’s life today," Julian said, taking both of Maria’s bruised hands into his own.
"If you hadn't thrown your body over hers, she would be dead on this floor," Julian whispered, tears spilling freely over his cheeks.
"She is a good woman, sir," Maria said through her tears. "She treated me like a daughter when nobody else in this town would give me a job."
"Pack your things, Maria," Julian said firmly.
Maria’s face fell in sudden terror. "Sir... are you firing me too?"
"No, Maria, never," Julian said, shaking his head with fierce determination.
"You are never working as a maid in this house again," Julian declared.
"From this day forward, you are Eleanor’s personal guardian and part of this family," Julian promised.
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"You will have a private suite in our penthouse in Manhattan, your salary will be tripled for the rest of your life, and I will pay for top medical care for your family," Julian swore.
"Now come with me," Julian added, turning toward the door. "We have a mother to save."
