Chapter 3 - THE RING
Two days later, Eleanor summoned both daughters to her mansion.
No disguise.
Black designer suit.
Diamond earrings.
Family ring on her hand.
Vanessa entered angry.
Sophie entered cautious.
Daniel waited outside.
Eleanor placed a thick inheritance folder on the table.
Then removed the Whitmore family ring.
Vanessa immediately straightened.
She understood the symbol.
The ring had passed:
grandmother,
to Charles,
to Eleanor.
Now to the successor.
Eleanor looked at both daughters.
“I’ve chosen.”
Vanessa’s face tightened.
Sophie looked down.
Eleanor walked past Vanessa.
Placed the ring into Sophie’s hand.
“Sophie.”
Vanessa exploded.
“HER?!”
Eleanor looked at her.
“I met both of you recently.”
Vanessa froze.
Eleanor continued.
“You simply didn’t know it was me.”
The color left Vanessa’s face.
She remembered the maid.
The bucket.
The wet rag.
The necklace.
“No.”
“Yes.”
Vanessa stared.
“You tricked me.”
“I observed you.”
“That’s sick.”
Eleanor almost laughed.
“You told an elderly woman she was worth less than a necklace.”
Vanessa snapped:
“She was a servant.”
Sophie closed her hand around the ring.
Eleanor heard that sentence.
Not:
I was wrong.
Not:
I’m sorry.
Just hierarchy.
Vanessa looked at Sophie.
“You think she’s better?”
Eleanor answered:
“Yes.”
For the moment, she did.
Vanessa picked up her handbag.
“Then enjoy each other.”
She walked out.
The front door slammed.
Eleanor turned to Sophie.
Sophie’s eyes were wet.
“I don’t know what to say.”
Eleanor took her hand.
“Say you’ll protect what this family built.”
Sophie whispered:
“I will.”
Perfect.
Again.
May you like
Too perfect.
But Eleanor wanted to believe.
