Chapter 10 - The Ultimate Cut
Julian locked eyes with his mother, his expression entirely devoid of the filial piety he had shown for decades. The silence in the kitchen was absolute, save for the faint, tired whimpers of the baby still cradled safely against Elena’s chest. Julian raised the phone slightly, letting the harsh glow of the screen reflect the consequences of her tyranny. His voice was quiet, deadpan, and carrying the weight of an inescapable execution order. "Not like this," Julian whispered, the chill in his words freezing the air in the luxurious kitchen. "Let's see where my three grand goes." With a single tap, the automatic financial allowances, the property management controls, and the foundation of Margaret’s domestic dictatorship were instantly frozen, leaving the matriarch standing in stunned, powerless silence as the empire she thought she ruled finally collapsed around her.
