My Wife Abused My Daughter Behind My Back Until I Secretly Watched the Security Cameras — Part 2

Previously: When Richard installed security cameras to protect his family, he never expected to catch his new wife, Eleanor, tormenting his young daughter, Lily, while he sat just outside the house.

The Lever of Betrayal

Richard stepped into the foyer, his chest heaving as he bypassed Eleanor entirely. He dropped to his knees, pulling Lily into a fierce, protective embrace. The little girl clung to his neck, her small frame shaking violently as she wept into his shoulder.

"I've got you, sweetheart. I'm so sorry,"

Richard whispered, his heart breaking into a million pieces. Over her shoulder, his gaze locked onto Eleanor, cold and deadly.

Eleanor recovered her composure quickly, smoothing down her silk robe.

"Richard, darling, it's not what it looks like,"

she began, a practiced, sweet tone returning to her voice.

"Lily spilled dirty water, and I was simply teaching her about responsibility. You know how children can exaggerate."

"I watched the entire feed, Eleanor,"

Richard said, his voice dangerously low.

"I saw the way you treated my daughter. I saw the cruelty in your eyes. Pack your things. If you are not out of this house in ten minutes, the police will escort you out, and I will ensure you spend the night in a cell."

Instead of panicking, Eleanor’s expression shifted. The fear vanished, replaced by a cold, calculating smirk. She slowly walked over to the console table, picking up a leather folder she had kept hidden.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you, Richard,"

she said softly, sliding a document out of the folder.

"You think you can just throw me out? Before your precious late wife Sarah passed away, she made some very questionable financial decisions to fund her failing business—decisions that involved forged signatures and a massive, undisclosed debt to my family's estate."

Richard froze. Sarah’s business had indeed struggled before her passing, but he believed they had settled everything. Eleanor tapped the paper.

"Sarah signed over the full ownership of this house and your family trust to my late father as collateral. If I release this document, the bank seizes everything. You will be bankrupt, disgraced, and Lily will have no roof over her head. So, are you still going to call the police?"