CHAPTER 2 – Racing Against Time
Arthur barely remembered reaching the elevator.
The moment the doors closed, he stabbed the button for the parking garage again and again, as if sheer force could make the elevator descend faster. His breathing was ragged, his pulse hammering against his temples.
On the phone, the nursery camera continued streaming.
Clara remained beside the crib, tears running silently down her face.
Leo's desperate cries echoed through the tiny speaker.
Evelyn stood with perfect composure, folding a baby blanket as though nothing unusual had happened.
"You'll stop crying eventually," she said coldly without looking at Clara. "Weak women always do."
"I haven't done anything to deserve this," Clara whispered.
"You married into the Sterling family."
"Arthur loves me."
Evelyn laughed.
"My son loves responsibility. Don't confuse that with love."
Arthur clenched the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white as he sped out of the underground garage.
Rain pounded against the windshield.
His luxury sedan tore through the empty streets, ignoring red lights and speed limits.
For years, he had trusted his mother without question.
She had raised him alone after his father's death. She taught him discipline, ambition, and perfection. Whenever anyone criticized Evelyn Sterling, Arthur defended her without hesitation.
Now every memory felt poisoned.
He remembered Clara canceling dinner with friends.
Her constant apologies.
The bruises she claimed came from bumping into furniture.
The terrified look in her eyes whenever Evelyn entered a room.
How had he missed it?
His phone buzzed again.
The camera feed was still active.
Evelyn lifted Leo from the crib.
For one brief second, Arthur hoped she had finally decided to comfort the baby.
Instead, she held him just out of Clara's reach.
"You don't deserve to hold him."
"Please..." Clara begged, taking one shaky step forward. "He's hungry."
"No."
"Please."
"You'll feed him when I decide."
Arthur slammed the steering wheel.
"Damn it!"
Clara sank to her knees.
"I'll do anything."
"I know you will," Evelyn replied calmly. "That's exactly how obedience is learned."
Arthur's vision blurred with anger.
This wasn't discipline.
It wasn't tradition.
It was abuse.
Then another voice entered the nursery.
Their housekeeper, Maria, cautiously appeared at the doorway.
"Mrs. Sterling... the baby—"
"Leave."
Maria hesitated.
"I said leave."
The older woman lowered her eyes and quietly disappeared.
Arthur noticed something that made his stomach twist.
Maria hadn't looked surprised.
She looked frightened.
Which meant...
She had seen this before.
How many times?
How many nights had his son cried while strangers listened outside the door?
How many opportunities had Arthur ignored because he believed everything was under control?
The mansion finally appeared beyond the iron gates.
Arthur accelerated toward the entrance.
His security system recognized the vehicle and opened automatically.
He didn't wait for the gates to finish opening.
The car shot through the narrow gap before they had fully separated.
Tires screamed across the circular driveway.
Arthur threw open the driver's door before the engine had even stopped.
From somewhere inside the house...
He could still hear Leo crying.
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And for the first time in his life, Arthur wasn't returning home as a successful businessman.
He was returning as a father determined to save his family—no matter who stood in his way.
