Chapter 2: The House of Glass

Arthur helped Lena into the Rolls-Royce, but he did not leave.

Instead, he turned toward the mansion.

“Stay in the car,” he said.

Lena grabbed his sleeve. “Dad, no. Evan is dangerous.”

Arthur looked down at her hand, bruised at the wrist.

For the first time that night, his calm expression cracked.

“Then he should have been smarter.”

He walked up the grand staircase alone.

Inside, the mansion smelled of champagne, roses, and fear. Guests still lingered in the ballroom from the Harrington charity gala, whispering behind crystal glasses. Music had stopped. No one dared move as Arthur Whitmore entered.

Evan Harrington stood near the fireplace in a tuxedo, his blond hair perfect, his smile thin.

“Arthur,” Evan said. “This is a family matter.”

Arthur glanced at the shattered phone on the floor. Lena’s phone.

Then at the security guards standing too close to the exits.

“A family matter?” Arthur repeated.

Evan’s smile twitched. “Your daughter had an emotional episode. Vanessa tried to calm her down.”

From the balcony above, Vanessa appeared at the staircase.

“That’s true,” she said quickly. “Lena became unstable.”

Arthur looked at her.

Vanessa stopped speaking.

He then reached into his coat and placed a small black device on the marble table.

A flash drive.

Evan’s face changed.

Arthur said, “Three nights ago, Lena called me. She didn’t say a word. But the line stayed open for six minutes.”

Evan swallowed.

Arthur continued, “I heard you threaten her. I heard you tell her no one would believe her. I heard you say that once the Whitmore merger was signed, she would become useless.”

The ballroom went silent.

Arthur looked around at the guests.

“Then I did what men like me do.”

He nodded toward the entrance.

Two men in dark suits stepped inside.

“My security team reviewed every camera in this house. Every deleted file. Every payment. Every forged document.”

Evan’s face drained of color.

Arthur stepped closer.

“You built a palace out of glass, Evan.”

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Then he leaned in.

“And I brought a hammer.”