Chapter 2 - The Breaking Point
The silence in the kitchen shattered. The sight of his bruised wife and terrified son triggered something primal and dangerous within Ryan. He didn't think; he simply reacted.
He lunged forward, closing the distance between the hallway and the kitchen island in a heartbeat. Before Eleanor could even turn to face him fully, Ryan’s hand swung out. He violently slapped his mother across the face, the crack echoing sharply over Leo's high-pitched wails.
"Stay away from them!" Ryan roared, his voice tearing from his chest.
The force of the blow sent Eleanor stumbling backward, slipping on the polished floor and falling hard. She stared up at him, one hand clutching her reddening cheek, her eyes wide with a mix of shock and indignation. She gasped for air, her pristine facade cracking. "How dare you!" she shrieked from the floor.
Ryan didn't care. The protective fury blinding him was absolute. He slammed both his hands down onto the kitchen island, leaning aggressively over the counter. He pointed a trembling finger down at the woman who had brought him into the world.
"Get your things and get out of my house!" he screamed, the veins in his neck bulging.
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When Eleanor hesitated, trying to find her footing, Ryan rounded the kitchen island. He dropped to one knee, grabbing her firmly by the jaw and forcing her to look into his furious eyes. His face was mere inches from hers, his breath hot and ragged.
"Tell me what you did to them," he demanded, his voice dropping to a terrifying, deadly whisper.
