She Slapped Her Stepmother Before the Whole Ballroom

CHAPTER 2 - The Daughter Sent Away

Elena's mother, Lucia, died when Elena was twelve.

Within a year, Thomas Vale married Beatrice, the polished director of his charitable foundation.

At first, Beatrice behaved like a devoted stepmother. She helped Elena choose dresses, attended school events, and insisted she call the mansion home.

Then Thomas began traveling more frequently.

Beatrice's kindness disappeared whenever he left.

She read Elena's letters, dismissed trusted employees, and persuaded Thomas that his grieving daughter needed a strict boarding school.

By sixteen, Elena saw her father only during holidays.

Beatrice's daughter, Isabelle, remained at the mansion. She wore designer clothes, attended company events, and occupied the bedroom that once belonged to Lucia.

Elena did not blame Isabelle. She blamed the woman who turned two young women into competitors.

Six months earlier, Thomas died from what doctors described as a sudden heart attack.

His will placed Beatrice in control of Vale International. Elena received a modest trust and the right to attend board meetings without voting authority.

Margaret immediately suspected forgery.

Thomas built the company beside Lucia. He had always promised their daughter controlling shares on her twenty-second birthday.

That birthday was tonight.

Margaret arranged to give Elena the emerald brooch at the gala. Its secret compartment held the key to a safe-deposit box Thomas opened shortly before his death.

Only three people knew about the key: Margaret, Elena, and Isabelle.

Elena turned toward her stepsister, who stood nearby in a silver dress.

"Did you tell her?"

Isabelle began crying.

"My mother searched my room. She found Margaret's letter."

Beatrice called her daughter a liar.

Police searched Beatrice's handbag but did not find the key. They did discover the missing brooch and a small bottle of Thomas's heart medication.

The prescription label had been removed.

Margaret accompanied Elena and the detectives to the bank. Because the physical key was missing, access required a court order.

Inside the box, they found Thomas's original signed will, financial ledgers, and a recorded message.

Thomas appeared weak and frightened.

"If you are watching this," he said, "then Beatrice prevented me from protecting my daughter."

He lifted a folder bearing the name of the Vale Employee Pension Fund.

"She has stolen millions. I intend to remove her tomorrow."

The recording was dated one day before his death.

Then Thomas revealed who had helped him gather the evidence.

He spoke a name Elena never expected.

Isabelle, Beatrice's own daughter, had been secretly helping Thomas expose her mother.