Chapter 10: The Fall of the Empress
On a rainy Tuesday afternoon, two years after Maya’s birth, Arthur received an unexpected phone call from the family physician, Dr. Evans.
""Arthur, I'm calling as a courtesy, and because your mother requested it—though she would never admit it to your face,"" Dr. Evans said gravely. ""Victoria suffered a severe stroke last night. She is stabilized at St. Jude Hospital, but her recovery will be long and uncertain.""
Arthur sat silently at his desk, his hand tightening around the receiver. A rush of conflicting emotions washed over him—grief, lingering pain, and an instinctual urge to rush to her side, battling against the scars of the past.
When he came home that evening and told Elena, she listened quietly, holding his hand.
""Do you want to see her?"" Elena asked gently, without a hint of judgment or bitterness in her voice.
""I don't know,"" Arthur confessed, staring out the window at the rain. ""Part of me feels guilty for not being there. But another part of me is terrified that going back into that room will undo everything we’ve built.""
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Elena placed her hands on his face, forcing him to look at her. ""You are not the same man you were two years ago, Arthur. She can no longer hurt us because her power over you is gone. If you need to go see her for your own closure, go. I will support you.""
Arthur looked at his wife, humbled by her extraordinary grace and resilience. She had every reason to hate Victoria, yet she offered love and understanding instead.
