CHAPTER 7
Outside the iron gates of the estate, the storm lashed relentlessly against the pavement as Julian and Chloe stood stranded on the wet sidewalk beside three trash bags containing their clothes.
Julian tried frantically to tap his smartphone to order an Uber, but a bright red notification popped up on his screen: Account Suspended due to Payment Failure.
His luxury sports car remained locked inside the estate garage, its registration permanently revoked by the holding company.
Chloe stood under the streetlamp, her expensive silk dress soaked and ruined, screaming insults at Julian as rain ruined her heavy makeup.
"You useless coward!" Chloe screamed, throwing her wet designer purse directly at Julian's chest. "You told me your father was a weak old fool who would give us whatever we wanted!"
"Shut up, Chloe! Just shut up!" Julian yelled back, burying his face in his wet hands as he leaned against the brick wall of the estate gates. "My life is completely over!"
Inside the warmth of the master estate house, Robert sat in the living room beside Ellen, who was wrapped in a soft cashmere blanket, sipping warm tea.
The heavy silence that had hung over the house for forty-eight hours had finally lifted, replaced by a deep, quiet sense of safety and relief.
Ellen reached out, taking Robert's hand in hers, her dark bruises slowly fading under the care of private medical specialists.
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"Did you... did you really take everything away from him, Robert?" Ellen asked softly, her voice trembling with complex maternal grief.
"I took away the wealth that corrupted his soul, Ellen," Robert replied gently, kissing her forehead. "If he ever wants to become a human being again, he will have to build his own life from the dirt up."
