Chapter 6 - The Fall of the Parasites
Brooke stumbled down the stairs, tears of genuine panic streaming down her face. ""Mom? What is he talking about? What do you mean forged?!""
""Get your things,"" Nora said, looking at her stepmother with neither anger nor pity, only a cool finality. ""You have thirty minutes to pack personal clothing. Everything else in this house—the furniture, the art, the silver, and the jewelry bought with my mother’s money—remains here.""
""You can't do this to us!"" Celeste shrieked, lunging toward Nora with her manicured claws outstretched. ""I raised you! I put a roof over your miserable head!""
Before Celeste could even come within two feet of Nora, Gabriel moved with blinding speed. He caught Celeste by the wrist, his grip like a steel vice. Celeste gasped in pain as Gabriel leaned down, his eyes burning with lethal ice.
""If your hands ever move toward her again, woman, you will not have hands to move,"" Gabriel whispered. His voice was so terrifyingly calm that Celeste’s knees buckled, and she collapsed onto the polished parquet floor, sobbing uncontrollably.
At that exact moment, the front doors swung open again. Julian Sterling, Brooke’s fiancé, stormed in, accompanied by his wealthy father.
""Brooke, what the hell is going on?!"" Julian yelled, looking around at the armed guards. ""My father's company stock took a hit this morning because rumors are spreading that your family is under mafia investigation!""
Brooke ran to him, throwing her arms around his neck. ""Julian! Baby, help me! Nora is trying to throw us out on the street! She teamed up with this gangster—""
""Julian,"" Nora called out calmly.
The young man turned, his eyes widening as he took in Nora’s striking, regal appearance.
""Before you defend your fiancée,"" Nora continued, pulling a tablet from Arthur’s hands and tapping the screen, ""you might want to see the security footage from the King Street atelier last Thursday night. Brooke told you she was working late on the charity gala collection. In reality, she was entertaining your best friend, Derek, in the VIP fitting lounge.""
The video began playing, crisp and clear. Julian’s jaw dropped in horror as the undeniable footage played out. He looked down at Brooke, his face turning bright red with rage.
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""You disgust me,"" Julian snarled, shoving Brooke away so hard she tumbled onto the floor next to her mother. ""The engagement is off. And my father will be pulling every single investment from your boutique!""
As Julian stormed out, Brooke lay on the floor, her makeup ruined, wailing into the rug. Gabriel smiled, turned to his men, and gestured toward the door. ""Time is up. Escort these two trespassers off the property.""
