Chapter 6 - The Verdict
Victoria took a frantic step backward, her high heels slipping slightly on the slick tile.
"No, Ethan, please!" Victoria begged, her hands flying to her face as real tears spilled over her cheeks. "I didn't mean for this to happen! I was just stressed! The wedding planning... the pressure... I lost my temper for one second!"
"You heartless monster!" Ethan spat, every word dripping with absolute, unyielding fury. "How dare you lay a hand on my daughter!"
Before Victoria could form another sentence, Ethan brought his right palm across her face.
CRACK.
The force of the strike sent Victoria stumbling sideways. Her heel snapped against the marble, and she collapsed hard onto the floor beside the wastebasket.
She clutched her red, burning cheek, staring up at him in complete, terrifying shock.
"Ethan..." she whimpered. "Please... forgive me... don't do this..."
Ethan didn't give her another glance.
He dropped to his knees on the cold tile beside Elena and Lily.
He reached out his broad, calloused hands, gently wrapping his arms around both his daughter and the maid who had saved her life.
He pulled them close against his chest, feeling Lily’s small body shivering against his shirt.
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Tears welled in the billionaire's dark eyes as he kissed his daughter's forehead.
"Thank you," Ethan whispered into Elena's hair, his voice breaking with raw, unbridled emotion. "Thank you for saving my daughter."
