What Eleanor did not realize was that Arthur had left his main briefcase inside the study upstairs. His luxury car had been waiting in the driveway, but he turned back at the last minute to grab his legal papers regarding the family estate. He had walked in through the side garage door just as Eleanor lost her temper in the main foyer.
The sound of his children crying hysterically echoed off the high marble walls, reaching Arthur's ears immediately. His heart dropped, replaced instantly by a wave of protective rage. He dropped his leather briefcase onto the floor and sprinted down the long hallway toward the front entrance under the bright daylight.
Father: Don't touch my kids!
Arthur burst through the grand wooden doors leading into the main foyer. His dark grey double-breasted suit was sharp, but his face was red with fury. He saw his two small children curled up in a ball on the hard floor right beneath the framed American flag. He saw his new wife standing over them, her hands resting on her hips as if she had done nothing wrong.
Arthur rushed forward, sliding onto his knees next to Leo and Maya. He pulled both of them into his arms, checking their arms and legs for bruises. Maya buried her wet face into her father's shoulder, sobbing uncontrollably. Leo's chest heaved as he tried to act brave for his little sister, but his hands were shaking violently against Arthur's suit jacket.
Father: Are you two okay? Did she hurt you?
Leo: She pushed us dad, we were just walking to the kitchen.
Arthur looked up from the floor, his brown eyes cold and dark. He stood up slowly, positioning his large body directly between Eleanor and his kids. The sheer tension in the brightly lit room was thick enough to cut with a knife. But Eleanor did not look scared. Instead, she straightened her metallic golden dress, fixed her blonde hair, and let out a cruel, mocking laugh that echoed off the white walls.
Eleanor: Oh please, Arthur, stop acting so dramatic! They tripped over their own feet.
Father: I saw you push them Eleanor! I saw it with my own eyes!
Stepmother: So what if I did? They're useless trash anyway! Just like their dead mother was!
The moment those bitter words left Eleanor's mouth, the remaining air seemed to leave the room. She had crossed a line that could never be uncrossed. She had insulted not only the helpless children, but also the memory of the woman Arthur had loved for over fifteen years. Eleanor crossed her arms, smirking under the bright daylight, thinking her marriage contract and prenup protected her from any real physical or financial backlash.