The dining hall was a frozen tableau, caught in the aftermath of Arthur's explosive outburst.
A shattered coffee cup lay in jagged shards on the floor, its dark stain spreading like spilled blood across the gleaming marble.
The air vibrated with tension, heavy with the weight of Arthur's words: "Then you're no brother of mine."
Billy stood there, breath coming in sharp gasps, fists clenched at his sides.
Family members stared, some wide-eyed in shock, others pale with horror, and a few resigned to the unfolding drama.
Then Arthur moved.
With deliberate slowness, he straightened his cuffs, his face transforming into a mask of chilling calm.
The veins that had bulged on his forehead moments before vanished, replaced by an eerie stillness.
When he spoke again, his voice was quiet yet deadly: "Aunt Margaret."
Margaret Osborn, President of Osborn Holdings and epitome of matriarchal strength, stiffened in her seat.
