Chapter 10: A Desperate Intrusion

Chapter 10: A Desperate Intrusion
The peace was broken on a Tuesday evening when Julian was in Boston finalizing the legal transfer of the foundation’s assets. Mara was alone in the estate, save for the security guard at the front gate.
She was in the nursery, folding tiny yellow blankets, when she heard the front door chime ring, followed by the heavy thud of the mahogany door opening. "Julian?" she called out, walking to the top of the stairs.
It wasn't Julian. Standing in the foyer, her coat soaked with freezing rain, was Vivienne. She looked haggard, the polished veneer completely stripped away. She held a heavy brass fire poker in her hand, her eyes wild.
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"You took everything," Vivienne snarled, taking a step toward the stairs. "My reputation, my foundation. My life."
Mara’s heart hammered in her throat, but she didn't step back. Her hands rested protectively over her stomach. "You did this to yourself, Vivienne. You made your choices."