Chapter 1
The grand doors of the living room swung wide open,
revealing a glittering sea of elegant silk dresses,
expensive tailored suits,
and sparkling diamond jewelry.
I tightened my grip on Esther's small,
trembling hand,
refusing to let her hide behind my back,
forcing her to stand beside me as an equal.
The lively classical music,
played by a hired string quartet in the corner,
came to a sudden,
screeching halt.
The sudden silence was absolutely deafening,
heavy with unspoken accusations,
as dozens of wealthy guests turned around to stare at us.
My mother,
Eleanor,
stood near the grand marble fireplace,
holding a crystal glass of expensive champagne,
her face freezing in a mask of absolute horror.
She looked at my casual travel clothes,
then looked down at Esther,
taking in the sight of her soaked apron,
her messy hair,
and her red,
cracked hands.
"Preston,"
she choked out,
forcing a terribly fake,
strained smile for the sake of her important friends.
"You are home so early,
my darling boy."
I did not smile back,
my jaw clenched so tightly it ached,
my heart pounding with a furious,
righteous anger that I could no longer contain.
"Clearly,"
I stated loudly,
making sure my voice echoed across the vast room,
reaching every single dark corner.
"I came back just in time to witness the ugly truth,
to see exactly how my beloved family operates in the shadows."
Gabriela pushed her way through the whispering crowd,
panting heavily,
her face pale and slick with nervous sweat.
"Mom,"
Gabriela stammered,
waving her hands frantically,
"I tried to stop him from coming up here,
but he just wouldn't listen to reason,
he pushed past me."
The elite guests exchanged incredibly uncomfortable glances,
some stepping back toward the walls,
others leaning in closer,
hungry for the dramatic scandal that was unfolding before their eyes.
"What is the meaning of this spectacle,"
my mother hissed,
stepping forward,
lowering her voice to a furious whisper.
"Esther is a part of this family,
she was merely helping the catering staff,
doing her fair share for the household."
I gently lifted Esther's hands,
holding them up high for the entire room to witness,
exposing the raw,
blistered skin,
the harsh red burns,
and the terrible physical toll of their cruelty.
"Does this look like the hands of a beloved family member,"
I demanded,
staring directly into my mother's cold,
calculating eyes.
"You locked my wife in a windowless service kitchen,
treating her worse than a hired scullery maid,
while you drank my expensive wine,
ate my gourmet food,
and paraded around in my house."
A collective gasp rippled through the stunned crowd,
a wave of shocked murmurs filling the tense air,
making the atmosphere incredibly suffocating.
My mother's perfectly powdered face turned a deep,
embarrassing shade of crimson,
not from any genuine remorse,
but from the sheer humiliation of being exposed publicly.
"Keep your voice down right now,"
she commanded fiercely,
her fake smile dropping completely,
"you are ruining this prestigious charity gala,
you are embarrassing me in front of the mayor."
"The gala is officially over,"
I announced loudly,
turning my furious gaze to the stunned,
wide-eyed guests.
"I highly suggest you all leave this instant,
call your private drivers,
fetch your expensive coats,
because this house is no longer open to anyone who tolerates cruelty,
abuse,
or elitist garbage."
Esther squeezed my hand tightly,
warm tears spilling down her pale,
tired cheeks,
her small body shaking violently against my side.
I stood perfectly firm,
wrapping my arm around her frail shoulders,
shielding her from their harsh,
judgmental stares,
ready to burn my entire world down to protect her.
The mayor set his drink down heavily,
May you like
nodding to his wife,
and walked swiftly toward the front door without saying a single word.
