ตอน 11: Wounds
[Stark Mansion: 27/06/1950]
04:10PM
In the comfort of the Stark family's enormous property, Maria Stark walked through the mansion's extensive and luxurious corridors, adorned with the finest decor. Her sky-blue silk dress, perfectly fitted to her body, trailed softly over the polished marble floor, creating a subtle and elegant contrast. The delicate lace of the dress was hand-embroidered with gold threads, reflecting the light from the crystal chandeliers hanging from the high ceiling, creating an ethereal glow with each step she took.
Around her neck, a diamond necklace that seemed sculpted from the stars lay gracefully, complementing the sparkling earrings dangling from her ears. Her wrists were adorned with gold and platinum bracelets, encrusted with sapphires and rubies that glittered with each smooth movement of her hands. Expensive rings, each telling a story of opulence and tradition, decorated her slender fingers.
The corridor walls were covered with dark, polished wood panels, intricately carved to tell stories of past generations. Portraits of Stark family ancestors, framed in gold, silently observed her as she passed. Persian rugs with rich patterns and vibrant colors cushioned her steps, making her walk almost inaudible.
Maria moved with the grace of a ballerina, every movement carefully calculated and deliberate. Her face, however, starkly contrasted with her impeccable attire. Despite embodying the pinnacle of elegance, her face was anything but.
She walked towards her husband's office, her expression anything but cheerful.
Maria angrily opened the doors. She found Howard sitting at his desk with another man sitting opposite him, both looking in her direction.
Howard just glanced at the man. He was an Italian slightly older than Howard, refined and sophisticated in appearance. He wore high-class, chic clothes, a perfectly tailored, expensive suit. A monocle delicately balanced in his left eye stood out as a tasteful accessory of status.
The man stood up with a malicious smile, slightly bowing to Howard before leaving the room with an air of superiority. His straight back and confident steps echoed in the room as he closed the door behind him, leaving Maria and Howard alone, the tension in the air almost palpable.
Maria walked towards her husband and threw something on the desk.
"What is the meaning of this?!" she shouted indignantly, pointing to the newspaper she had thrown, specifically the news written there.
Maria pointed to the newspaper with a trembling finger, her face a mix of anger and disappointment. The headline, in bold letters, highlighted Stark Industries' involvement in the production of weaponry for the conflict in Korea, with a special focus on the new repulsion technology missiles developed by Howard.
"What is the meaning of this, Howard?" Maria shouted, her voice echoing through the luxurious office. "You're financing a war? You're helping to kill people, Howard!"
Howard, sitting behind his mahogany desk, looked at Maria with a cold and calculating gaze. He sighed deeply before responding, his voice low and controlled.
"Maria, this is business. The government needs these weapons, and we have the technology to provide them. It's as simple as that."
"As simple as that? Howard, how can you be so insensitive? We're talking about human lives, families being destroyed! And all you think about is profit?" Maria exclaimed, her hands trembling as she held the newspaper.
Howard slowly stood up, walking to the office window and looking out over the vast grounds of the mansion. He crossed his arms, his demeanor unshakable.
"It's not just about profit, Maria. It's about power, influence. Stark Industries needs to stay ahead. If it's not us, it will be another company. Besides, the government trusts our technology to protect our soldiers and allies."
"Protect? Building missiles for a war is not protecting, it's destroying! And you're in the middle of it, acting as if it's something noble! Howard, I can't understand. Where is the man I fell in love with? The man who wanted to change the world for the better?"
Howard turned to her, his eyes reflecting a mixture of frustration and fatigue.
"Maria, the world has changed. And if we want to survive in this world, we need to be practical. I do what needs to be done to secure our future, to ensure that Stark remains relevant."
Maria shook her head, tears beginning to form in her eyes.
"I just wish you could see what this is doing to us, Howard. It's destroying us from the inside. I don't know who you are anymore."
Howard approached her, trying to reach for her hand, but she pulled away.
"I am the same man, Maria. It's just that now I see the world as it really is. And you need to understand that."
Maria looked at him, her expression a blend of love and despair.
"Maybe it's you who needs to understand, Howard. Not everything is about power and influence. Sometimes it's about doing what's right. And this... this is not right."
She turned and left the office, leaving Howard alone, reflecting on his choices and the growing distance between him and the woman he loved.
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06:01PM
In the early evening, Maria was in the living room, a photo album on her lap. She slowly flipped through the pages, her eyes scanning each image with a mix of joy, nostalgia, and sadness.
The first photo was of her and Howard walking in a park, both laughing carefree. The wind tousled Maria's hair while Howard looked at her with admiration. Next to it was a photo of Howard at twenty years old, a year before they met. He was standing in front of a race car, his smile full of ambition and determination.
The next page showed a photo of Maria's father, a robust and smiling man, waving at the camera. Following that, there was a photo of their wedding, Maria in an elegant wedding dress and Howard in an impeccable suit. Both looked radiant with happiness, their eyes shining with promises of a future together.
Another photo showed Maria and Howard with Tony as a baby, just one year old. Maria held their son with a tender smile while Howard looked at them both with pride. Further along, there was a photo of Tony at five years old, holding an engine he and Howard had built together. Both were covered in grease, but the smiles of complicity and joy on their faces were undeniable.
Maria gently ran her hand over the images, her thoughts drifting between the happy moments and the current reality. Her expression was a mix of joy from the memories and sadness from the present.
Howard entered the room, looking somewhat regretful. He watched Maria for a moment before speaking, trying to find the right words.
"Maria, we need to talk," he said, his voice firm but with an attempt at softness.
Maria closed the photo album and looked at him, the pain still evident in her eyes. "Talk? About what, Howard? About how you're funding a war?"
Howard sighed, crossing his arms. "Maria, this isn't the first time I've done this. You know I helped in World War II."
"Yes, Howard. To fight Nazism. That was different," Maria retorted, her voice heavy with emotion.
Howard laughed, a bitter, humorless sound. "Do you really believe the powers that be were concerned about the Jews and other minorities? It was all about power and influence, Maria. It always has been."
Maria shook her head, incredulous. "I'm not naive, Howard. I know the world is complicated, but this... this is wrong. You're helping destroy lives."
Howard stepped closer, frustration evident on his face. "And if you don't like what I do, then maybe you shouldn't stay here."
The room fell silent, the words hanging in the heavy air of tension. Maria looked at Howard, anger and sadness mingling in her eyes. Without saying a word, she stood up and left the room, leaving Howard alone with his thoughtless words and the growing distance between them.
Howard stood there, looking at the now closed photo album, a deep sense of regret, but unable to fully express his emotions. He knew something had changed, and he wasn't sure how, or if, he could fix it.
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A few minutes passed. Howard returned to his office, lost in thought. However, the focus was not on him, but on Maria. With a heavy heart, she had packed all her important belongings, including the photo album. She was placing the bags in the trunk of her personal car, an elegant Cadillac Eldorado.
Maria knew she couldn't stay there any longer. The idea of a divorce, something she never thought she would face with the love of her life, now seemed inevitable. Howard was no longer the man she had fallen in love with, and the distance between them seemed irreparable. Determined, she closed the trunk with a deep sigh.
As she prepared to leave, Jarvis, the loyal Stark family butler, appeared in the garage. He watched her for a moment before approaching.
"Mrs. Stark, please reconsider. Perhaps there is a way to resolve this," said Jarvis, his voice gentle and full of concern.
Maria gave him a sad smile, her eyes glistening with tears. "Jarvis, I would love to believe that, but... I can't anymore. Howard has changed, and I can't stay and watch this destroy everything we were."
Jarvis nodded, understanding her pain. "I understand, ma'am. Know that we will all miss you here. Take care."
She gave the butler one last hug and got into the car. With a wave of farewell, Maria left the Stark property, her thoughts turned to finding Tony and trying to find a good lawyer to start the divorce proceedings.
Driving through the dark roads, Maria felt crushed by the weight of the decisions she had made. After some time, she reached an empty street in the middle of the night. The silence was absolute, broken only by the sound of the Cadillac's engine. Suddenly, she heard a strange sound, like the ticking of a timer.
Before she could react, the car exploded in a ball of fire, illuminating the deserted street. The debris was scattered around, and a deadly silence returned, broken only by the crackling of the flames.
Among the wreckage, pieces of Maria's photo album burned slowly. The images of a happy time – her and Howard walking, the wedding, moments with Tony – turned to ashes, consumed by the fire. The burning memories danced in the shadows, a tragic epilogue to the love and life Maria had left behind.
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So what did you think? I know it seems like it's taking time to get action, but from now on we'll have our MC acting more strongly, this is the first trigger for Tony Stark to decide to be more than just a rich boy.
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