Chapter 7 - Breaking through the impenetrable walls of grief that separated a desperate father from his traumatized children during a stormy night in an American estate today.
The tranquil morning peace of the St. Croix estate was abruptly shattered by the shrill ringing of the secure hallway telephone.
Mr. St. Croix glanced up from the breakfast table where he was helping the youngest triplet butter a piece of toast.
The housekeeper rushed out from the pantry, answering the call with a hurried and slightly nervous tone of voice.
"Mr. St. Croix, it's your mother-in-law, Mrs. Vanguard; she insists on speaking with you immediately," the housekeeper announced.
A shadow crossed the father's handsome face as he sighed softly, handing the toast to his son before standing up.
Eleanor Vanguard was a towering matriarch of New York high society—wealthy, unforgiving, and fiercely critical of his parenting.
He walked over to the antique mahogany wall phone, lifting the heavy receiver with a measured and cautious demeanor.
"Arthur, what is this absurd rumor I hear about you skipping the quarterly board meeting to play babysitter?" Eleanor demanded coldly.
"It's not a rumor, Eleanor; I am taking a mandatory leave of absence to be present for my sons," Arthur replied firmly.
"Your sons are out of control because you hired some unqualified twenty-something girl to replace their mother!" she snapped sharply.
"The Nanny has accomplished more in forty-eight hours than you and your socialite friends managed in six months," Arthur countered.
"I am driving over to your estate right now to remove those boys from that toxic environment before you ruin them!" Eleanor threatened.
"If you step foot on my property uninvited, Eleanor, you will never see your grandsons again," Arthur warned with icy authority.
May you like
He slammed the receiver down onto its cradle, his chest heaving with suppressed fury as the kitchen fell dead silent.
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