CHAPTER 2 The Hidden Bruises
Dr. Bennett arrived twenty minutes later.
He was seventy years old, had treated three generations of Vale family members, and knew the difference between an accident and a story someone wanted people to believe.
After examining Clara privately, he returned to the cellar.
His expression was unreadable.
Eleanor noticed.
Doctors learned early how to hide fear.
But they never completely hid concern.
“Clara has a mild concussion,” he said.
Julian crossed his arms.
“Mild.”
“Yes.”
“So she’s fine.”
Dr. Bennett looked at him.
“No.”
The single word silenced the room.
“She needs rest. Monitoring. And she should avoid being alone for the next twenty-four hours.”
Julian scoffed.
“She’s my wife.”
Dr. Bennett didn’t answer.
That silence was louder than an argument.
Eleanor looked toward Clara.
The young woman sat wrapped in a blanket near the fireplace.
Her emerald dress was replaced with one of Eleanor’s sweaters.
She looked smaller.
Younger.
Like someone who had spent too long pretending she was stronger than she was.
After the doctor left, Eleanor walked into the library with Clara.
The room had always been Clara’s favorite place.
Thousands of books lined the walls. A fireplace burned beneath an old painting of Eleanor’s grandmother standing among the vines.
“Tell me the truth,” Eleanor said.
Clara stared into the flames.
“I’m afraid.”
Eleanor sat across from her.
“Of Julian?”
A long silence.
Then a small nod.
The answer was barely visible.
But it was enough.
“When did it start?”
Clara wiped her eyes.
“Before we got married.”
Eleanor felt her stomach tighten.
“Before?”
“He wasn’t like this at first.”
Nobody ever was.
That was the part people misunderstood.
Cruel people rarely introduced themselves as cruel.
“They are charming,” Clara whispered.
“They apologize.”
“They promise.”
“They make you think you’re the only person who understands them.”
Her voice broke.
“And then one day you realize you’re spending all your energy trying not to make them angry.”
Eleanor remained silent.
“How many times?”
Clara looked confused.
“How many times what?”
“Has he hurt you?”
Clara looked away.
That was her answer.
Eleanor closed her eyes briefly.
Years of memories moved through her mind.
Julian at age ten.
Julian at sixteen.
Julian at twenty-five.
She remembered every warning sign she had ignored.
The arrogance.
The need to control.
The way he treated kindness as weakness.
She had told herself those were flaws he would outgrow.
She had been wrong.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Clara laughed sadly.
“Because he told me you would believe him.”
Eleanor looked up.
“He said you would protect the family name before protecting me.”
That sentence landed harder than she expected.
Because Julian knew exactly where to attack.
The Vale family had survived because of reputation.
But Eleanor suddenly realized something.
A family name that required silence was already damaged.
“Did anyone else know?”
Clara hesitated.
“Yes.”
“Who?”
“Someone inside this house.”
Eleanor’s expression changed.
“Who?”
Before Clara could answer, the library door opened.
Thomas stood there.
His face was pale.
“Mrs. Vale.”
“What happened?”
He held out an envelope.
“This was found in Julian’s office.”
Eleanor took it.
There was no name.
No address.
May you like
Only three words written across the front.
YOU CAN’T HIDE.
