My New Wife Thought the Security Cameras Were Off, but I Saw Everything

The Mask Slips

Richard did not hesitate. He bypassed Eleanor entirely, dropping to his knees on the wet marble floor to scoop Lily into his arms. The little girl clung to his neck, her sob-wracked body shaking violently. "I've got you, sweetheart," Richard whispered, his heart breaking into a million pieces. "You're safe now."

Eleanor quickly recovered her composure, her face smoothing into a practiced mask of concern. "Richard, darling, you're home early," she stammered, stepping forward. "You don't understand. Lily spilled juice and was refusing to clean it up. I was just trying to teach her some basic discipline. You know how stubborn she can be."

Richard stood up, keeping Lily safely behind him. He held up his phone, the recorded footage still playing. "I saw it all, Eleanor. Every single second of your disgusting cruelty. Pack your bags. Get out of my house, out of our lives, and never come back."

But instead of breaking down or begging for forgiveness, Eleanor’s expression shifted. The fear in her eyes vanished, replaced by a cold, arrogant smirk. She slowly walked to her designer handbag on the console table and pulled out a folded document.

"I wouldn't be so hasty if I were you, Richard," Eleanor purred, tapping the paper against her palm. "Do you remember the post-nuptial agreement we signed last month? The one where you granted me full custody rights and half your estate if we ever divorced?"

Richard stared at her, stunned. "I never signed any such thing. That's a forgery!"

"Prove it," Eleanor sneered, her voice dripping with venom. "To the courts, it looks perfectly legal. If you try to throw me out, I will tie you up in custody battles for years. I will take Lily away from you, and you will spend millions trying to get her back. So, I suggest you sit down, shut up, and let me run this house the way I see fit."

Richard felt the room spin. He looked at his terrified daughter, then back at the monster standing in his home. He felt utterly cornered, his wealth and power useless against her calculated malice. But just as Eleanor began to laugh, Richard’s phone buzzed with an incoming call from his private investigator.