Chapter 1 - The Broken Dynasty
“You were never worthy of this! She has no claim to our name!” Eleanor screamed, her voice trembling with fury as she towered over the broken figure crumpled on the Persian rug.
Clara gasped for air, clutching the raw, purple bruises blossoming across her delicate throat. Tears streamed down her flushed cheeks, blurring the opulent gold silk of her spaghetti-strap dress.
“It is only a necklace,” Julian drawled from the velvet couch, barely glancing up from the glowing screen of his smartphone, his dark blue silk bathrobe slipping lazily off one shoulder.
Before Eleanor could draw another breath to hurl more venom, a sharp crack echoed through the vaulted salon. Katherine’s hand struck Eleanor’s cheek with blinding speed, leaving a bright red imprint across the aristocratic skin. Julian jolted backward, his phone slipping from his fingers to clatter uselessly against the hardwood floor, his eyes wide with unprecedented shock.
Katherine knelt gracefully beside Clara, her black mourning dress rustling softly as she reached down to scoop up the heavy diamond necklace resting near the girl’s trembling hand. The large central sapphire caught the amber glow of the crystal chandelier, casting cold, blue shadows across the tense room.
“Only the next family head may wear this. And I chose her,” Katherine said, her voice dropping to a terrifying, quiet whisper that commanded absolute obedience.
Clara raised her tear-filled eyes, her chest heaving as she stared at the matriarch, entirely unaware of the absolute war Katherine’s words had just declared within the foundation of the Sterling empire.
Julian scrambled to his feet, his casual facade shattering into pieces as he stammered a protest.
“Grandmother, you cannot possibly be serious about this insane decision!”
Eleanor touched her stinging cheek, a predatory smirk slowly replacing her shock.
“Let her try to survive what comes next.”
May you like
As Katherine placed the heavy heirloom back around Clara’s bruised neck, the heavy mahogany double doors of the drawing room slowly swung open on their own.
---
