Chapter 4 - THE ENGAGEMENT DINNER
Richard proposed to Victoria during a private dinner in Paris.
When they returned, she entered Ashford Manor wearing Caroline’s diamond earrings.
Richard claimed Victoria found them in the family vault and assumed they were available.
Emily saw Ethan’s face.
Those earrings appeared in the last formal photograph taken of Caroline.
He left the dining room without speaking.
Emily found him in the greenhouse.
“She wants to replace Mom,” he said.
“No one can replace your mother.”
“Dad thinks she can.”
Emily did not criticize Richard.
She knew how easily a child could turn one careless adult sentence into a permanent wound.
“Your father is still your father. But he needs to know how you feel.”
“He doesn’t ask.”
The engagement dinner was held the following week.
Victoria invited investors, politicians, and society reporters.
The boys were dressed in matching blue suits.
Before the guests arrived, Victoria pulled Emily aside.
“You’ve become too familiar with them.”
“I care for them.”
“You clean this house.”
“I also supervise them because you dismissed two nannies.”
Victoria smiled without warmth.
“You need to remember the difference between affection and position.”
During dinner, Noah spilled water.
Victoria seized his wrist beneath the table.
Emily saw his face change.
She stepped forward with a towel.
“It was an accident.”
Victoria released him.
Later, she accused Emily of embarrassing her.
“You contradicted me in front of guests.”
“You were hurting him.”
“I was correcting him.”
Emily met her eyes.
“Then correct him without leaving marks.”
Victoria’s face became cold.
The next morning, Richard summoned Emily to his study.
Victoria had told him Emily was becoming possessive of the children.
“She said you undermine her authority,” Richard said.
“Did she tell you she grabbed Noah?”
“She said she stopped him from knocking over a glass.”
“There were finger marks on his wrist.”
Richard looked away.
He had seen the marks.
He had accepted Victoria’s explanation because accepting it was easier than reopening another conflict.
Emily realized that Richard was not cruel.
But grief, wealth, and constant work had made him dangerously passive.
Victoria did not need him to participate in every decision.
She needed him to remain too tired to question them.
That afternoon, Emily discovered three empty suitcases inside the boys’ closets.
When she asked why they were there, Liam began crying.
“Victoria said after the wedding, we have to go live at school.”
Emily confronted Victoria.
Victoria did not deny it.
“Richard will understand once the arrangements are complete.”
“Do the boys understand?”
“They’re children.”
“They are his children.”
Victoria moved closer.
May you like
“And you are replaceable.”
👉 Victoria had begun preparing to remove the boys without Richard’s consent—and Emily was now the only adult inside the house challenging her.
