Chap 2
The message had already been sent.
Victor never raised his voice.
He never threatened Nathan.
He simply slipped his phone back into his pocket and looked at the young man standing in front of him.
For more than thirty years, Victor Salvon had negotiated billion-dollar deals.
He had faced ruthless competitors.
Hostile takeovers.
Corporate betrayals.
Yet nothing had ever made him as furious as the sight before him.
His only daughter...
Bruised.
Bleeding.
Terrified.
Inside the home where she was supposed to be loved.
Nathan, however, remained completely fearless.
He laughed as if nothing serious had happened.
"What are you staring at, Mr. Salvon?"
"She's my wife."
"If I discipline my own wife, that's none of your business."
Victor's face hardened.
"Discipline?"
Nathan shrugged.
"She embarrassed me in front of my guests."
"So I taught her a lesson."
Gloria quickly stepped between them.
"Victor, calm down."
"Don't make a scene."
She forced an awkward smile toward the kitchen entrance.
"The guests are still here."
"Families argue."
"It happens."
Victor slowly turned toward her.
"A family argument?"
He pointed toward Isabella's bruised face.
"Is this what you call an argument?"
Gloria folded her arms.
"You wealthy parents spoil your daughters."
"They get married..."
"They need to learn obedience."
Isabella lowered her head.
She had heard those words countless times.
Every bruise came with the same excuse.
"A wife must obey."
Victor walked toward his daughter.
Very gently...
He lifted her chin.
The bruise beneath her eye had already darkened.
His hands began shaking.
Not because he was afraid.
Because he was trying not to lose control.
"Sweetheart..."
"How many times?"
Isabella couldn't answer.
Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks.
Victor looked again.
Then noticed something even worse.
Old bruises.
Faded yellow marks beneath the fresh injuries.
Healing cuts along her wrist.
This wasn't the first assault.
It wasn't even the second.
His heart sank.
"How long has this been happening?"
Isabella whispered,
"...Almost two years."
Victor closed his eyes.
For two years...
His daughter had suffered in silence while smiling through every family dinner.
Every holiday.
Every birthday.
Every phone call.
He blamed himself.
"I should have seen it."
"I'm sorry."
Isabella immediately shook her head.
"No..."
"I didn't want you to worry."
Nathan rolled his eyes.
"Oh, please."
"She's exaggerating."
Victor stood and faced his son-in-law.
"You hit her."
Nathan smirked.
"I corrected my wife."
"You make it sound like a crime."
Victor stared at him in disbelief.
"You don't even regret it."
Nathan answered without hesitation.
"Why should I?"
"She's my wife."
"I decide where she goes."
"I decide who she talks to."
"I decide when she leaves this house."
"And if she disobeys..."
He glanced at Isabella.
"...there are consequences."
The kitchen fell completely silent.
Victor slowly looked around the room.
Thirteen guests had quietly gathered outside the kitchen entrance.
None of them had spoken.
But every one of them had heard Nathan's confession.
Victor nodded once.
"You've just confessed."
Nathan frowned.
"Confessed to what?"
Victor's voice thundered through the mansion.
"To assaulting my daughter."
"You admitted it..."
"In front of thirteen witnesses."
Nathan's smile disappeared.
At that exact moment...
The front door burst open.
"Police!"
Several uniformed officers rushed into the mansion.
Detectives followed close behind.
Guests gasped and quickly moved aside.
Nathan spun toward the hallway.
"What the hell is this?"
The lead detective stepped into the kitchen.
"Mr. Nathan Reynolds?"
"Yes?"
"You are under investigation for felony domestic assault."
Gloria immediately rushed forward.
"No!"
"You can't arrest him!"
"This is a private family matter!"
The detective looked directly at her.
"Ma'am..."
"Domestic violence stops being private the moment someone becomes a victim."
She froze.
Another detective walked toward the kitchen island.
He carefully photographed the blood on the floor.
The broken dishes.
The birthday cake.
The cake knife still lying on the counter.
Then he turned toward Isabella.
"Ma'am..."
"Would you like medical assistance?"
Before she could answer...
Victor gently wrapped his arm around his daughter.
"Yes."
"And photographs."
"Document every injury."
Nathan suddenly became nervous.
"Wait..."
"Everyone needs to calm down."
"It wasn't that serious."
Victor looked him straight in the eye.
"The only thing that's changing tonight..."
"...is that you'll finally face the consequences."
Outside, more patrol cars arrived.
News helicopters circled overhead.
May you like
The birthday party was over.
The investigation had just begun.
