Chapter 10 - The Apology of Marble
When Emma reached the head of the table, Victoria did something that shocked every guest in the room. The proud, aristocratic Victoria Sterling took a soft linen napkin from the table, dipped it into a glass of ice water, and gently held it against the red mark on Emma’s forehead.
“I acted out of rage because I thought my son was in danger,” Victoria said softly, her blue eyes meeting Emma’s brown ones with genuine remorse. “I was wrong about who the danger was coming from. Can you forgive me?”
Emma’s breath hitched, tears welling up in her eyes again—this time not from pain or fear, but from the overwhelming relief of finally being believed. “I only cared about the little boy, Mrs. Sterling. I couldn’t let anything happen to him.”
“And you saved his life,” Victoria said firmly.
May you like
She handed the damp napkin to Emma and turned back to face Claire, her expression instantly hardening into steel once more. “As for you... you will answer for every drop of liquid in this glass.”
Claire backed away until her spine hit the edge of the dessert display table, her hands clutching the edge of the gold-trimmed tablecloth as her world crumbled around her.
