Chapter 10
Evelyn Vance stood just inside the doorway of the study, her expensive silk blouse slightly wrinkled and her hands trembling as she clutched a leather handbag against her chest. She looked at Elena, taking in the fully healed face and the upright, confident posture that bore no resemblance to the terrified woman who had fled the birthday party two weeks ago. “Elena,” Evelyn began, her voice cracking slightly with a mixture of false maternal warmth and genuine desperation. “I know things have gotten... out of hand, but family matters should be handled within the family, not dragged through the criminal courts.” Elena remained seated behind the mahogany desk, her expression completely neutral as she motioned for the older woman to take a seat across from her. Evelyn hesitated before sitting down on the edge of the leather armchair, glancing nervously at Arthur and the attorney standing nearby. “Where was your concern for family when Julian broke my eye, Evelyn?” Elena asked softly, her voice cutting through the silent room like a razor blade. “Where was your family loyalty when you watched him lock me in the study for hours or drain my inheritance to fund his failing architectural vanity projects?” Evelyn flushed deeply, her aristocratic composure finally cracking under the weight of undeniable truth. “He is my only son! He made mistakes, yes, but men of our social standing do not belong in federal prison cells!” she hissed, the mask slipping completely to reveal the arrogant enabler underneath. Arthur stepped forward, leaning over the desk with a towering, authoritative presence that made Evelyn shrink back into her chair. “Your son is a violent criminal and a thief, Evelyn, and the only place he belongs is behind bars reflecting on his actions,” Arthur stated coldly. “Now take your fraudulent apologies and your misplaced entitlement off my property before I have my security team physically remove you.” Evelyn stood up abruptly, her face twisted in bitter hatred as she pointed a shaking finger at Elena. “You will regret this! Julian will destroy you and everything your family owns before he goes down!” With that final, venomous threat, she turned and stormed out of the study, slamming the heavy oak door behind her with a resounding crash that echoed through the quiet mansion.
