Chapter 2: The Trojan Horse
Elias wrapped Clara in his heavy thermal jacket and carried her to his vehicle, cranking the heat until it hissed. He couldn't just take her away; that would let them off the hook. He needed to destroy them.
He wiped the snow from his face, straightened his uniform, and walked to the front door. He didn't knock. He kicked it open.
The laughter inside died instantly. His mother, Evelyn, dropped her glass, shattering it on the mahogany floor. His father, Richard, stood up, his face pale.
"Elias?" Richard stammered, his eyes darting toward the hallway. "We... we thought you were arriving tomorrow."
"Surprise," Elias said, his voice flat, devoid of warmth. He stepped inside, his boots tracking snow onto the pristine rug. "Where is Clara?"
"Oh, Elias," Evelyn began, clutching her pearls, her voice dripping with fake concern. "We haven't seen her in hours. She left, didn't she? After that... incident."
"Incident?" Elias tilted his head. He could see the fear in their eyes. They thought he was ignorant. They thought he was the same boy who left for basic training. He walked toward the fireplace, warming his hands, his back turned to them. "I found her in the snow, Mother. She’s barely alive. I’ve called the ambulance. They’ll be here in five minutes."
The color drained from his sister, Sarah’s, face. She reached for her phone. "Elias, wait, you don't understand—"
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"I understand everything," Elias interrupted, turning around. His eyes were like glacial ice. "I understand that you didn't just leave her outside. You left her to die because she found out about the offshore accounts, didn't she?"
The room went dead silent. The trap was sprung.
