Chapter 10: The House of Fire

Chapter 9: The House of Fire

Servants walked on tiptoe, careful not to make a sound that might anger Izo Whitmore. They knew he was alive but they all signed A NON DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT.

Among them was Yvonne, her hands were red and cracked from scrubbing marble floors, her knees perpetually sore from endless kneeling. She had learned not to look anyone in the eyes. Not Alexander, who sneered at her like she was dirt.

Not Isabella, who treated her like an invisible pest. Not Claudia, whose words made her cry. And certainly, not Izo Whitmore, the man who was destroying her and her sister's lives.

It was breakfast time or perhaps brunch, time didn't mean much in this place. The long dining table glowed under the golden chandelier. Expensive china clinked softly as Yvonne poured orange juice into crystal glasses.

Claudia, immaculate in white sat at the head of the table, crossing her legs elegantly as she scrolled through her phone. Alexander leaned back in his chair, smirking lazily, his fingers twirling a fork. Isabella sat beside him, lips painted crimson, her tone dripping with sarcasm as she scrolled through gossip feeds.

At the other end sat Izo, reading the morning paper.

"Yvonne," Claudia said sharply, without lifting her eyes. "You missed a spot."

Yvonne looked, realizing she'd spilled a droplet of juice on the table's edge. She quickly reached for a napkin. "I-I'm sorry, ma'am."

"You're always sorry," Isabella muttered with a mocking laugh. "It's like a broken record. Maybe we should play it for Dad's next meeting-The Symphony of Sorry by Yvonne the Slave."

Alexander chuckled, tapping his knife against his plate. "Careful, Issy. She might cry again. You know how much she loves that mop bucket of hers."

Yvonne said nothing. She bent to wipe the juice carefully, her throat tightening. She'd learned silence was her only protection in this house.

But then the television screen across the room changed. The morning show host's voice rose sharply.

"Breaking news just in! A shocking twist in the Whitmore family scandal-Audrey Hepburn Whitmore, the widow of the late billionaire Izo Whitmore, has reportedly married his son, Tennessee Whitmore, inside the Atlantic Ocean Federal Prison!"

Claudia's eyes shot up. "What did she just say?"

Isabella leaned forward, fumbling for the remote. "Wait-wait, it's trending everywhere!"

The image shifted on the screen. A grainy clip from inside the prison, showing Audrey in a dull gray inmate uniform standing beside Tennessee, both before a priest, exchanging marital vows. The headline burned in bold red letters:

> "WIDOW MARRIES HER STEPSon - The AUDREY WHITMORE SCANDAL!"

Izo's paper slowly lowered from his hands. His face hardened. His jaw clenched.

Yvonne's fingers went numb, the tray in her hand trembling.

The TV host continued:

"Sources claim the marriage took place just hours ago. Social media is ablaze with criticism, calling Audrey a manipulative gold digger who seduced her stepson to retain control of the Whitmore fortune. Others speculate it's a revenge scheme against the Whitmore dynasty, following her conviction for the billionaire's mysterious death. All these has happened in the space of three weeks."

"Turn it up!" Claudia barked.

Isabella obeyed, her fingers shaking.

The next footage showed the old photos-the lavish wedding of Audrey and Izo Whitmore, his death, the crime scene flashing, police sirens, Audrey chained to prison.

And now her new wedding to Tennessee.

"God, she's insane," Isabella whispered. "She actually did it."

Alexander's eyes widened. "That's... wow. That's low, even for her."

But all attention soon turned to the man at the table's end.

Izo didn't move at first. His expression was a blank slate of fury trying to contain itself. The only sound was the faint hum of the air conditioner and the whispering anchors on TV.

Then, slowly, his fist clenched around his coffee cup.

It shattered in his grip. Dark coffee spilled across his robe.

"Dad..." Alexander began, but stopped when Izo rose from his chair.

"Turn that off!" he thundered, his voice so loud that Yvonne flinched.

Isabella fumbled with the remote again, clicking frantically until the screen went black.

For a heartbeat, silence returned. But this silence was worse.

Claudia stood quickly, dabbing her mouth with a napkin. "Izo, please calm down..."

"Calm down?" His voice was like a storm breaking loose. "She marries my son in a goddamn prison and you say calm down?"

He slammed his hand against the table, rattling every plate and glass.

Yvonne stood frozen at the corner, holding the tray to her chest, her eyes wide with more confusion and fear.

"I call the shots," Izo snarled, pacing now, his robe swaying like the shadow of a king turned ghost. "They think they're playing Chess?"

Claudia stepped closer carefully. "It's just a stunt, Izo. A desperate act for attention..."

"Attention?" His eyes flashed. "She's mocking my name! She's using my son as her weapon!"

He turned suddenly, his gaze cutting through the room. "Does no one see it? Does no one see what she's doing?"

Isabella's lip trembled. "Dad-maybe Tennessee's the one..."

"Enough!" Izo's voice roared, slamming his hand again on the table.

Yvonne couldn't breathe. Every instinct told her to flee, but she couldn't move. Not yet.

Claudia's anger shifted directions. Her face twisted. She turned toward Yvonne, as if needing a target for her rage.

"You!" she hissed.

Yvonne blinked, terrified. "M–Ma'am?"

"Why are you standing there like a ghost?" Claudia snapped. "Go! Clean up this mess! You're not paid to stare at the television!"

"I-I didn't mean to..."

"Your sister is a whore!" Claudia suddenly grabbed the silver bowl of pepper sauce from the table and poured it over Yvonne's dress.

Yvonne gasped, stepping back as the burning liquid splattered across her skin and clothes. Her eyes stung.

"Maybe that will wake you up if you were dreaming of seducing my own son, Alexander!" Claudia screamed. "Stupid, useless thing! Standing there like you belong at this table...you and your sister are same thing."

"Get this out of my sight!" he shouted, voice raw. "All of it!"

Yvonne dropped to her knees, scrambling to pick up the shards. Her fingers bled as she worked, tears mingling with the sting of pepper on her cheeks.

Isabella stood frozen. Alexander stared at his father like he'd seen a ghost.

Claudia stepped back, trembling slightly now at the sight of Izo's rage, he wasn't just angry. He was furious.

"She's in prison, Izo," Claudia tried to reason. "Her sister is now our slave forever...you won. You beat Darey to it, him and his ugly wife would be crying in their graves now."

Izo looked toward the window, where the city skyline glowed.