Chapter 2 - Shattered IllusionsThe raw, vibrating fury in the father’s voice—Lucas Sterling, a titan in pharmaceutical development and medical tech empire building—silenced every guest and relative standing in the grand foyer.
Tabitha, his mother-in-law, blinked in sudden shock, quickly trying to smooth down her silk blouse and recover her arrogant composure. "Lucas, darling, don't be dramatic," Tabitha scoffed, waving a dismissive hand. "The child is just playing for sympathy. A bit of discipline never hurt anyone. She needs to build resilience, not rely on crutches!"
Beside her, Chloe—the woman who had recorded the video on her phone—stepped forward, tossing her blonde hair over her shoulder with a toxic smirk. "I recorded what happened right before you walked in, Lucas," Chloe announced sweetly, turning the phone screen toward him again. "Your dear mother-in-law routinely locks away Lily's medication to 'toughen her up' while you're away at board meetings. And your beloved wife, Sarah, fully supports it."
Lucas slowly lowered the oxygen mask as Lily's breathing finally stabilized into soft, exhausted sniffles. He handed the inhaler to a trembling nanny, stood up to his full height, and turned to look at his wife, Sarah, who stood frozen near the grand staircase.
"Is this true?" Lucas asked, his voice dangerously low, stripped of all warmth.
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Sarah bit her lip, looking away guiltily before trying to defend her mother. "Lucas, Mom only wants what's best for the family name. A sickly child with chronic respiratory issues is a bad look for our social standing. If she inherits your weakness, our family legacy is finished!"
Lucas felt his blood turn to ice. The woman he had shared a home with, the mother of his child, cared more about high-society optics than their daughter’s right to draw a breath.
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