THE NIGHT ARTHUR THREW HIS WIFE OUT—HE FINALLY DISCOVERED WHY SHE WAS TERRIFIED OF THE TWO CHILDREN IN HIS HOUSE
Chapter 1
Victoria stood in the middle of the living room with her arms crossed, fury still burning across her face.
“They had it coming, sweetheart.”
Her voice was cold.
“Those little brats actually thought they could disrespect me under my own roof.”
Maya stared at Arthur in disbelief.
Her cheek was red.
Her younger brother stood beside her, silent and shaken.
“He didn’t do anything!”
Maya’s voice cracked.
“We weren’t even bothering her.”
“She just came at us out of nowhere!”
Arthur’s face changed.
He stepped closer.
“What happened?”
His eyes moved over the children.
“Who did this to you?”
Maya pointed toward Victoria.
“She slapped both of us.”
Arthur went still.
Maya continued.
“Then she tried to throw us out of the house.”
Silence.
Not the comfortable kind.
The kind that arrives just before something breaks.
Arthur slowly turned his head toward his wife.
Victoria lifted her chin.
She still looked offended.
As though she were the victim.
Arthur’s voice came out low.
Controlled.
“You put your hands on children?”
Victoria rolled her eyes.
“They were disrespectful.”
“In my house?”
Her expression hardened.
“Your house?”
She stepped toward him.
“Arthur, I’m your wife.”
“You don’t get to stand there and talk to me like I’m some stranger.”
Arthur stared at her.
For years, he had excused her temper.
Her jealousy.
Her cruelty disguised as sophistication.
He had told himself she was difficult.
Protective.
Proud.
But now two frightened children were standing behind him.
And for the first time, there was nothing left to excuse.
Victoria grabbed his arm.
“Tell them to apologize.”
Arthur pulled free.
Then his hand moved.
SLAP.
The sound cracked through the room.
Victoria staggered one step backward.
Her hand flew to her cheek.
For several seconds, she could only stare at him.
Not because the strike hurt.
Because she could not believe Arthur had finally chosen someone over her.
“You…”
Her voice shook.
“You hit me?”
Arthur stepped between Victoria and the children.
She looked past him toward Maya.
“Over those strangers?”
Arthur’s expression turned cold.
“They are children.”
Victoria laughed bitterly.
“They’re nobody.”
“That’s where you’re wrong.”
Something in his voice made her stop.
Arthur looked directly into her eyes.
“You will never lay a hand on them again.”
“Arthur—”
“Get out.”
Victoria blinked.
“What?”
“Get out of my house.”
Her face drained of color.
For the first time that night, fear replaced arrogance.
“You’re throwing me out?”
“Yes.”
“Your wife?”
Arthur did not move.
“The woman I married would never have done this.”
Victoria’s humiliation twisted instantly into rage.
“You’re going to regret this.”
Arthur remained silent.
“My family will destroy you.”
Nothing.
“My father will bury your company.”
Arthur stared at her as though he were looking at a stranger.
Victoria stepped closer.
“You think those children are worth losing everything?”
Arthur’s eyes narrowed.
“You still don’t understand what you’ve done.”
For the first time, Victoria hesitated.
Maya looked down.
Her little brother reached for her hand.
Victoria noticed.
And something strange flashed across her face.
Not anger.
Recognition.
Then fear.
Arthur saw it.
“What?”
Victoria immediately looked away.
“What are you talking about?”
Arthur took one step closer.
“You weren’t angry because they disrespected you.”
She said nothing.
“You were afraid of them.”
Her face tightened.
“That’s ridiculous.”
“Then why did you try so hard to get them out of this house before I came home?”
Victoria’s breathing changed.
Just slightly.
But Arthur noticed.
Maya did too.
Arthur looked back at the children.
Then at his wife.
“What do they know?”
Victoria went pale.
“Nothing.”
Arthur’s voice sharpened.
“What do they know, Victoria?”
She grabbed her purse.
“You’re insane.”
She walked toward the door.
Arthur did not stop her.
But just before Victoria stepped outside, Maya spoke.
“We saw the photograph.”
Victoria froze.
Arthur turned.
“What photograph?”
Maya swallowed.
“The one she keeps locked in the upstairs drawer.”
Victoria spun around.
“Shut up.”
Arthur’s eyes hardened.
“Maya.”
“What was in it?”
Maya looked at Victoria.
Then back at Arthur.
“It was a picture of us.”
Arthur stared.
“What?”
Maya’s voice became barely audible.
“From when we were babies.”
Victoria’s face went white.
Arthur slowly looked at his wife.
The fury was gone now.
So was the arrogance.
All that remained was terror.
And in that moment, Arthur finally understood.
Victoria had not attacked those children because they were strangers.
She attacked them because she knew exactly who they were.
She had known before they ever entered the house.
Victoria still believed her surname, her money, and her powerful family could protect her.
She thought Arthur throwing her out was the biggest mistake he had ever made……………
