Chapter 19 - The Broken Crown|
Julian stood at the foot of the grand marble staircase, his hands casually tucked into his trouser pockets, completely devoid of fear.
"Put the gun down, Matthew," Julian said, his voice flat and steady. "You're making your final mistake."
"You ruined me!" Matthew wept hysterically, pointing the gun at Julian’s chest. "You took my wife, my kid, my money, my reputation! I have nothing left!"
"You ruined yourself, Matthew," a clear, powerful voice echoed from the top of the stairs.
Matthew looked up, startled.
Elise stood on the landing, wearing her emerald silk dress, looking down at him not with fear, but with absolute, icy contempt. She didn't hide behind Julian. She walked slowly down the stairs, stopping three steps above the foyer floor.
"Elise..." Matthew stammered, his hand shaking violently as he aimed the weapon toward her. "Elise, come with me! We can start over! I still love you!"
"You never loved me, Matthew," Elise said, her voice echoing clearly through the grand space. "You loved the idea of having a quiet, obedient wife who made you look good in magazines. You traded your daughter’s life for a mistress’s favor, and you traded your honor for greed."
"I was scared!" Matthew sobbed.
"You were a coward," Elise corrected coldly. "And you are still a coward. Look at you. Standing in a man’s home with a gun because you can't face the consequences of your own evil choices."
Matthew choked on a sob, his finger tightening on the trigger. "If I can't have you... nobody can!"
BANG!
A sharp, deafening shot echoed through the foyer.
Matthew gasped, dropping the revolver as a taser dart struck his chest, sending fifty thousand volts of electricity surging through his body. He collapsed onto the marble floor, twitching uncontrollably.
Four armed SWAT officers burst through the shattered patio doors, pinning Matthew to the floor and clicking steel handcuffs around his wrists.
The lead police captain walked over to Julian and Elise. "Mrs. Hayes... Mr. Sterling... are you both alright?"
"We’re fine, Captain," Julian replied, stepping beside Elise and wrapping a protective arm around her waist. "Take him away."
May you like
As the officers dragged the sobbing, twitching man out into the rainy night, Matthew looked back at Elise one last time.
She didn't look back at him. She turned her face into Julian’s chest, completely safe in the arms of the man who had truly protected her.
