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Vince's step contained its usual swagger of arrogance as he entered the house. After a few long days of big business, he was looking forward to kicking back at home, in his den.
The butler, James, greeted him, and the McMahon patriarch offered the man a smile and a nod. And then, as he made his way up the huge staircase, Vince realized Linda was approaching.
"Vince - thank goodness you're home."
The man arched a brow in wonder as he noticed the expression on his wife's face. Something was obviously up, but what?
"Linda..." He didn't bother with the nicety of a hello. "... What's happened?"
The woman's features were so sad. She cast her large blue eyes down for a beat before meeting his dark eyes again.
"Stephanie is home," she said. "I'd sent the limo to pick her up. Vince, she's in an awfully bad way right now."
Vince grew angry. He'd heard all about what had happened mere hours ago from Paul via a phone call. What the hell was going on?
"Don't tell me she's gotten herself in trouble with that damned O'Haire..." he muttered.
"No," Linda protested. "And she's told me quite a lot about Sean and their relationship... He *loves* her, Vince."
The man scowled deeply. Why was his wife always so naive about things? Sean O'Haire was undoubtedly *using* their daughter. Nothing more, nothing less.
"She's marrying Paul."
Linda's eyes widened at her husband's words. At the same time, she got a sickening sensation in the pit of her stomach.
"We can't let that happen... I..." She paused as tears welled up in her eyes. "Come into the bedroom with me. I have to tell you something."
Vince frowned, knowing from his wife's tone and manner alike that it was serious, without a word, he followed her to the master bedroom.
Finally, when the door was closed behind them, Vince turned to his wife and questioned her.
"What is this all about, Linda?"
By now, tears were streaming down the blonde woman's face. It was all so horrifically surreal. She shook her head, still unable to completely swallow what had happened to her own daughter.
"Paul Levesque raped Stephanie..."
Vince frowned, then his features transformed.
"*What*?"
Linda sobbed silently, her hand flying up to her mouth in her anguish. She recalled Stephanie having emerged to the bedroom after her shower, the red puffiness of her eyes not at all lost on her. It was then that the brunette had collapsed onto the bed, her head on her mother's lap, and sobbed her heart out. Linda had held tightly to her baby, her hands soothing as she'd stroked Stephanie's back and long, damp hair. But the older woman knew that no amount of comforting would ever ease the horror her daughter had faced.
Now, Linda merely eyed her husband, the tears still falling down her cheeks. She couldn't even speak.
"I don't believe this..." Vince spat. "... and I'm going to get to the bottom of it right now!" With those words, he marched toward the door, fully intent on going to his daughter's room.
The man yanked so hard on the door that it opened loudly. The sleeping brunette suddenly bolted fully awake, squinting at the light that filtered in through the windows.
"My darling daughter," Vince said in a menacing tone, again not bothering with a greeting, "we
need to have a talk..."