Daniel's expression twisted with barely controlled rage as he stared directly at Patricia, his voice rising into a furious shout that echoed sharply through the sleek, minimalist living room. "You framed her!" he yelled, his face contorted with fury as the betrayal fully registered within him.
Patricia stumbled backward, her earlier confidence completely shattered, her mouth opening and closing helplessly as she searched desperately for some explanation that might salvage the situation. "Daniel, please, I can explain—"
"Pack your things and get out!" Daniel shouted, his voice carrying absolute, unwavering finality that left no room whatsoever for further discussion or negotiation. Patricia flinched visibly at the intensity of his fury, clearly recognizing that whatever relationship she had shared with her brother had just been irrevocably damaged by her own calculated cruelty.
Sophie remained standing nearby, tears still streaming down her face, though now carrying an entirely different weight, relief and overwhelming gratitude replacing the earlier terror and confusion that had gripped her only minutes before. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion as she looked toward Daniel.
Daniel turned toward her immediately, his expression softening considerably despite the anger still radiating from his tense posture. "I should never have let this happen," he said quietly, his voice carrying genuine regret as he registered the full extent of what Sophie had just endured because of his sister's deliberate deception.
Patricia remained frozen near the room's entrance, the weight of her exposed betrayal settling heavily over her as she processed the sudden, catastrophic collapse of her carefully constructed lie, and the swift, unforgiving consequences that had immediately followed.