Chapter 18 - The Balcony of Despair
Before Ethan could react, Vivienne lunged with terrifying, desperate speed. She didn't fire; she used the heavy steel barrel of the pistol to strike Ethan across the temple. The boy cried out, collapsing onto the hardwood floor, blood immediately pooling from his brow.
"Ethan!" Claire screamed, lunging forward, but her weakened limbs betrayed her again, sending her sprawling onto the marble steps of the gallery.
Nora backed away toward the open French doors that led out onto the master terrace overlooking Lake Briar. The wind roared outside, carrying freezing mist off the churning black water below. Vivienne stepped forward, her eyes dilated with frantic, cornered rage.
"Give me the child, Nora," Vivienne hissed, stepping out onto the cold stone terrace, the rain lashing against her silk robe. "Give her to me, or I swear to God, neither of you leaves this roof alive."
Nora stood against the stone balustrade. Sixty feet below, jagged rocks and black, violent lake water crashed against the foundation of the mansion. There was nowhere left to run.
"You don't care about this baby," Nora cried over the screaming wind. "She is nothing to you but a signature on a legal document!"
"She is leverage!" Vivienne screamed, completely dropping the facade of composed elegance. Her face was contorted in feral fury. "She is the only key that unlocks the trust fund! Without her, I am just Richard's second wife, waiting for his company to go bankrupt! Give her to me!"
Vivienne grabbed the straps of the sling, tearing the fabric with violent strength. Nora fought back, clawing at Vivienne's face, but the slick, rain-soaked terrace gave no traction. Vivienne ripped the infant from Nora's arms, staggering back toward the edge of the stone railing.
Lily began to shriek—a terrified, piercing wail that cut through the thunder of the storm.
"Stop!" Claire crawled out onto the balcony, dragging herself across the wet stone on her hands and knees. "Vivienne, don't! Please! Kill me! Just don't hurt her!"
Vivienne stood at the precipice, holding the newborn baby out over the dark void of the sixty-foot drop, the wind whipping her hair into a wild frenzy. Beneath them, the black water churned like an open grave.
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"You wanted your daughter, Claire?" Vivienne sneered, her eyes manic, insane, devoid of every shred of humanity. "THEN CATCH HER!"
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