Chapter 7 - The Echo of Cruelty
Eleanor’s heart slammed against her ribs and seemingly stopped beating. The silence in the room became thick, suffocating, and absolute. Lily sniffled, wiping a stray tear with the back of her frayed sleeve as she looked up into her father’s fiercely protective eyes. The presence of her protector gave her the strength she needed. She didn't scream, and she didn't throw a tantrum, but her quiet words carried the devastating, undeniable weight of a death sentence in the corporate world. "Dad..." she whimpered softly, her voice echoing perfectly in the cavernous, quiet space. She pointed a trembling finger at the pale woman in the white suit. "She slapped my hand. She said someone like me could never belong in your store."
