Chapter 1 – The Truth Behind the Marble Walls
Silence consumed the mansion.
The billionaire slowly placed his briefcase on the marble floor.
His eyes never left his daughter.
"Emma..."
His voice trembled.
"Who did this to you?"
The little girl instinctively looked toward her stepmother.
That single glance told him everything.
Victoria stood abruptly, forcing a smile that fooled no one.
"Darling, you're misunderstanding. Emma insisted on helping the housekeepers. I thought it would teach her responsibility."
Before she could finish, the oldest housemaid stepped forward.
For years she had remained silent.
Not anymore.
"Sir..."
Her hands shook.
"Miss Emma has been cleaning this house every day for nearly six months."
Victoria spun around.
"Be quiet!"
But another servant spoke.
"She wasn't allowed to eat dinner with the family."
A third servant stepped forward.
"She slept in the staff quarters whenever you traveled."
Another voice followed.
"Her piano lessons were canceled."
"Her tutors were dismissed."
"Her allowance was taken."
Every sentence struck harder than the last.
The billionaire looked at Emma's bruised hands.
Hands that should have been holding books.
Instead...
They carried buckets.
Scrub brushes.
Cleaning chemicals.
He knelt before his daughter.
"What happened to your arms?"
Emma hesitated.
Then quietly rolled up her sleeves.
Dark bruises covered both forearms.
Victoria gasped theatrically.
"She falls all the time!"
Emma slowly shook her head.
"No."
Her tiny voice barely rose above a whisper.
"She grabbed me whenever I cried."
The room fell silent.
The billionaire stood.
His face showed no anger.
Only disappointment.
He pressed one button on his phone.
"Mr. Hayes."
His chief of security answered immediately.
"Yes, sir."
"Lock every gate."
"No one leaves this estate."
Victoria's wine glass slipped from her fingers and shattered across the marble floor.
For the first time...
May you like
She realized this wasn't an argument.
It was an investigation.
