Chapter 2: The Perfect Mask Falls
Chapter 2: The Perfect Mask Falls
Twenty-five minutes later...
Red and blue lights illuminated the Harrington estate.
Detectives entered the basement.
Child protection officers rushed toward the children.
Nathan never let go of Emma's hand.
Victoria stood in the center of the room, still insisting everything had been misunderstood.
"They're sensitive."
"They exaggerate."
"I've sacrificed everything for this family."
But then...
James walked in carrying a hard drive.
"Sir."
"We recovered every deleted recording."
Victoria's face drained of color.
Nathan looked at the detective.
"Play it."
The basement television flickered to life.
The first video appeared.
Victoria locking the children inside.
Another.
Forcing Liam to kneel for hours.
Another.
Throwing away untouched dinner while Emma begged for food.
Then another.
And another.
More than four hundred recordings.
Years.
Not days.
Not weeks.
Years.
One detective quietly removed his glasses.
Even he struggled to watch.
Victoria began crying.
"I was stressed."
"I never meant—"
Nathan interrupted.
"You meant every second."
The lead detective stepped forward.
"Victoria Harrington..."
"You're under arrest for multiple counts of child abuse, unlawful confinement, and child endangerment."
The handcuffs clicked shut.
Victoria looked desperately at Nathan.
"Please..."
"You have to help me."
Nathan's expression never changed.
"The children begged you too."
"You didn't listen."
She was escorted away.
May you like
As the police car disappeared through the mansion gates...
the empire's perfect family image disappeared with it.
