Chapter 10 - The King and His Queen
Arthur gently unclasped the broken chain of the gold locket and carefully placed the heirloom into his suit jacket pocket to have it professionally repaired.
He looked down at Eleanor. The bruises on her face were heartbreaking, but the sheer terror in her eyes was finally gone. She realized she was safe. The demon that had tortured her was locked in a concrete cell, never to return.
Arthur slowly dropped to one knee right in the middle of the grand ballroom, completely ignoring the staring crowd of elite guests. He brought himself down to her level, gently taking both of her bruised hands in his.
"I am so sorry I left you with her, Nana," Arthur whispered, a single tear escaping his dark eyes. "I swear to you on my life, no one will ever lay a hand on you again. I will burn this city to the ground before I let anyone hurt you."
Eleanor offered a frail, beautiful smile. She reached out with her trembling hand, gently cupping his cheek, wiping the tear away.
"You already saved me, my brave boy," Eleanor whispered.
May you like
Arthur stood up, wrapping his broad, muscular arms carefully around his grandmother. He gently picked her up, holding her securely against his chest, and walked her out of the ballroom toward the waiting town car. The nightmare was over. The traitor was imprisoned, the loyal maid was rewarded, and the true matriarch of the family was finally going home.
If you were Arthur, would you have handed the wicked fiancée over to the police, or handled her punishment privately in the basement she used?
