Chapter 4
I stood up, wiping my tears away with the back of my hand, trying to sound casual.
“It was for the baby. I was making it for our baby.”
Victor Lancaster froze.
Then he kicked over the fireplace tray, snatched the scorched scrap off the floor.
“Eleanor… I didn’t mean to. I wasn’t thinking.”
I nodded, forcing a smile that hurt.
I know.
But sometimes, the words that come out easiest are the ones that cut the deepest.
He caught a glimpse of my swollen, tear–streaked eyes.
Regret flickered across his face.
He reached out, brushing my cheek gently.
“Eleanor, we’ll have a baby someday. I promise.”
I blinked, taken aback. For a second, I thought maybe–maybe he knew.
But then he said-“When your sister gets pregnant, I’ll have the baby registered under your name.”
Just like that, all hope shattered into cold silence.
I stared at him, eyes burning red.
“Excuse me? You know Isabella-”
Victor stood up. The softness in his face disappeared, replaced by something cold and patronizing.
“Eleanor, don’t start this again.”
“Yes, Isabella’s mother hurt yours. But that was years ago. You’ve got to let it go.”
“And besides–I’m the President now. You’re the First Lady. What more do you want?”
My eyes fell to the faint scratch on his neck.
I heard my own voice, calm from the pain: “Why her? Why Isabella?”
Victor’s expression tightened. His gaze darkened.
“Eleanor, I’m the head of this country.”
“My authority isn’t up for debate. Do you understand?”
I laughed. I actually laughed.
“Understand? Of course I do.”
You married my enemy–my own sister–just to teach me my place.
To force me to bow, to surrender.
What a joke. What a cruel, pathetic joke.
Victor Lancaster, I stood by you when you were nobody
I believed in your when no one else did.
I gave you years. My youth. My loyalty.
And now all you want… is to see me crushed beneath your feet.
I knew power corrupts.
But I never thought I’d watch it consume you from the inside out.
“So that peacock brooch–was that your idea too?”
Victor froze, silent for a long moment.
That night, he didn’t stay with me. He went back to the Oval Office.
And I sat alone by the window, watching the
now fall, wide awake till dawn.
Two days passed.
Victor didn’t come.
No one dared mention his “affection” for Isabella to my face anymore.
Only Samuel Greene–my loyal aide–kept coming to knock on my door, three times a day.
Two hours until the public announcement.
The staff had packed up everything I was allowed to take.
None of Victor’s gifts came with me.
I didn’t want a single one.
One hour.
They dressed me in clothes I hadn’t worn since the early days.
Nothing fancy. Just… familiar.
Thirty minutes.
Samuel knocked again–faster this time, more urgent.
When the door opened, I saw Victor Lancaster.
And Isabella.
Standing in the snow.
He looked nervous. Almost… desperate.
He’d been waiting in the cold. With her.
When he saw me, his face twisted in shock, then anger.
“What the hell is wrong with you people?”
“Look at her! It’s only been two days!”
He stripped off his overcoat and threw it over my shoulders.
His voice dropped to a gentler tone.
Chapter 4
“Eleanor South Atlantic sent a full set of black pearl.
“I told them to deliver them all to you. Can we not do this anymore?”
He was pretending like nothing happened.
Like he hadn’t gutted me just days ago.
That was scarier than the storm.
I said nothing. Just looked past him.
Toward the officials approaching down the path.
“Executive order!”
Victor turned, dread flooding his face.
“Eleanor Lancaster, formerly First Lady.
Repeated disregard of duty.
Failure to support future leadership.
Effective immediately, removed from position and relocated to Evergreen Estate.”
And for the first time in days-
I smiled.
“Thank you, Madam Vice President.”
I lifted the hem of my coat, ready to kneel.
But strong hands stopped me.
Victor stood there, face ice–cold. His coat whipped in the wind. His eyes bloodshot with fury.
