THE SUICIDE

Chapter Five : The Price Of Power

The grand halls of the Delacroix estate were filled with the scent of fresh-cut roses and political ambition. Mr. Delacroix had officially declared his candidacy for Governor—a move that sent ripples through the entire nation. For years, he had stood behind the scenes, pulling strings and shaping policy. Now, he would step into the spotlight.

The campaign was a production unlike any other. Strategists, advisers, and image consultants flooded the estate, turning it into a war room of whiteboards, late-night meetings, and security briefings. Posters with his smiling face began to dominate city walls. His voice echoed through radio stations. Billboards bore slogans like: “Leadership With Vision” and “A Safer, Stronger Tomorrow.”

But as his political presence grew, his presence at home faded.

Mr. Delacroix became a ghost in his own house there in body, absent in spirit. Even at dinner, his phone buzzed constantly, his eyes fixed on data sheets and polls. Juliet would sit quietly, pushing food around her plate, waiting for a father who never looked up. Sometimes, he would kiss her forehead on his way out, already rehearsing speeches in his mind.

Mrs. Delacroix, ever the supportive wife, played her role to perfection. She appeared by his side at campaign events, smiled for cameras, and gave elegant interviews. Behind closed doors, she handled the pressure with practiced grace. The house staff adjusted to the rhythm of politics, always a step ahead of the campaign machine.

Security around the estate doubled. Reporters camped at the gates. Every move the family made was scrutinized. Even Juliet, barely in her teens, was expected to behave like a public figure—polished, silent, and smiling.

But something within the household had begun to shift.

Juliet’s loneliness deepened. Her parents were no longer just emotionally absent; they were physically unreachable. Her calls for attention were drowned in political noise. Her cries, buried beneath applause.

While the nation watched Mr. Delacroix rise, no one noticed Juliet begin to fall.