Chapter 12 - THE SECOND TIME THE GLASS BROKE
Fire climbed the white-rose curtains.
Police pulled Eleanor away from the gas line.
She fought them with a strength Theodore had never seen.
Sebastian cut the ropes around Theodore’s wrists.
Smoke spread beneath the glass ceiling.
The conservatory doors closed automatically.
The security failure had locked everyone inside.
“Emergency release,” Sebastian shouted.
“It’s beside the north arch.”
Flames blocked the path.
Theodore looked upward.
The curved glass roof had been designed to withstand storms.
The doors might not open before the room filled with smoke.
Rosalie’s voice came through the speaker.
“The western flower platform.”
“There’s a maintenance ladder beneath it.”
Sebastian and Theodore pulled the platform aside.
A narrow ladder led toward the roof supports.
Theodore grabbed the mallet.
Sebastian looked at him.
“You cannot break structural glass with that.”
“I broke a coffin.”
They climbed.
Heat rose around them.
Police officers helped Eleanor toward the ladder.
She refused.
“You cannot drag me out like a criminal.”
“You are under arrest,” Detective Ellis said.
“I am Eleanor Vale.”
The detective pulled her upward.
“That is a name.”
“Not an exemption.”
Theodore reached the upper frame.
He struck the glass.
The rubber head bounced.
A crack appeared.
He struck again.
The crack widened.
Sebastian wrapped his burgundy coat around his hand and pulled at the damaged edge.
Glass broke outward.
Cold winter air rushed inside.
Smoke poured through the opening.
Firefighters placed ladders against the conservatory exterior.
One by one, the officers climbed out.
Eleanor emerged in handcuffs.
Her green dress was blackened with soot.
She looked back toward the burning memorial hall.
For the first time, the destruction belonged to her.
Theodore reached the lawn last.
Rosalie stood behind the emergency line wrapped in a hospital coat.
She had ignored every instruction to remain away.
When she saw him, she crossed the wet grass with her cane.
Theodore opened his arms.
She held him.
“You broke the glass again,” she whispered.
“You keep getting trapped behind it.”
Sebastian joined them.
His hands were bleeding.
Rosalie looked at him.
“You came alone.”
“Yes.”
“That was reckless.”
“Yes.”
“Do not confuse one rescue with forgiveness.”
“I won’t.”
Firefighters contained the blaze before it reached the main estate.
The coffin was destroyed.
The hidden camera server survived.
Eleanor’s confession had already been copied to police systems.
The evidence she tried to burn existed in too many places.
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The family had spent generations centralizing power.
Rosalie survived by distributing the truth.
