Chapter 13 - Eleanor's TrapEleanor had deliberately provoked Victoria.
Emily stared at her.
Richard felt cold.
“You knew she might lose control?”
Eleanor nodded.
“You hid the phone?”
Yes.
“You recorded her?”
Yes.
“Why?”
Eleanor struggled.
“No… believe…”
Richard understood.
“No one would believe you.”
She nodded.
“So you wanted proof.”
Yes.
“But you deliberately made her angry.”
Another nod.
Emily looked disturbed.
“What did you say to her?”
Eleanor began crying.
Eventually she whispered:
“Robert…”
Richard knew.
She had accused Victoria of killing Robert.
Again.
Victoria snapped.
The recording began.
Then the vase.
Richard felt conflicted.
His mother had not caused Victoria's violence.
Victoria remained responsible for throwing the vase.
But Eleanor had intentionally engineered a confrontation because she felt powerless.
Emily said gently:
“You could have told me.”
Eleanor looked at her.
“Danger.”
“You didn't want me involved?”
Eleanor nodded.
Emily looked at the bruises on her arm.
“I got involved anyway.”
Eleanor began sobbing.
“Sorry.”
Emily took her hand.
“I know.”
Richard watched.
Then Eleanor looked at him.
“Sorry.”
“For Victoria?”
She nodded.
Richard sat.
“Mom, Victoria made her own choices.”
Eleanor shook her head.
“Me…”
“You were cruel to her.”
Yes.
“You blamed her for Dad.”
Yes.
“You tried to break us apart.”
Eleanor cried.
“Yes.”
Richard swallowed.
“Why didn't you tell me Dad had been harassing her?”
Her answer:
“Shame.”
Richard looked away.
Family image.
Again.
Eleanor continued:
“Thought… stop.”
“You thought Dad would stop?”
Yes.
“He didn't.”
No.
“And when Victoria fought back, you hated her because she forced you to see who Dad was.”
Eleanor closed her eyes.
Yes.
Richard finally saw his mother not simply as a victim.
But as a woman who had spent decades trapped inside a marriage built on appearances.
It didn't excuse her.
It humanized her.
Later, Emily approached Richard outside.
“I need to leave.”
He nodded.
“I understand.”
“Not because of your mother.”
“I know.”
She touched her cheek unconsciously.
The bruise had faded.
But Richard saw it.
“I can't work for someone who hit me.”
“You shouldn't.”
Emily looked surprised.
Richard continued:
“I'll provide any reference you want.”
“I'll pay the remainder of your contract.”
“And I won't ask you to forgive me.”
Emily studied him.
“Thank you.”
She started walking away.
Then stopped.
“But I'm not leaving Eleanor immediately.”
Richard frowned.
“She needs a transition.”
Emily continued:
“I'll stay two weeks.”
“Professionally.”
“Then I'm gone.”
Richard nodded.
“Whatever you need.”
Emily left.
Richard watched her.
May you like
He realized consequences weren't dramatic.
Sometimes they were simply a good person choosing not to remain in your life.
Related Stories
