Chapter 5 - the staircase incident)
The first time Victoria hurt Lily directly, she made it look like an accident.
Grace had taken Lily into the garden while Nathan was at the office.
They returned through the eastern corridor.
Victoria stood at the top of the servants’ staircase.
“You were told to keep her downstairs.”
“She needs air.”
“She has a window.”
“She is not a prisoner.”
Victoria walked down three steps.
Lily moved behind Grace.
“I want her gone.”
Grace stared upward.
“No.”
Victoria stopped.
“What?”
“No.”
It was the first time Grace had said it without qualification.
“She is my daughter. If I go, she goes with me.”
“Excellent.”
“I’m leaving Friday.”
Victoria’s expression changed.
Grace had spent the night searching for apartments.
She had almost no savings, but she no longer cared.
“What about your job?”
“I’ll find another.”
“And Lily’s school?”
“I’ll manage.”
“And your mother’s remaining hospital debt?”
Grace froze.
Victoria smiled.
“You really should read the financial documents you sign.”
“What did you do?”
“Nothing yet.”
Grace felt dread.
Victoria continued down the stairs.
“But your mother’s old treatment balance was purchased by a private debt entity six months ago.”
Grace already knew the answer.
“You.”
“Technically, a company.”
“You bought my mother’s debt?”
“I bought leverage.”
Grace’s hands shook.
“You’re insane.”
Victoria’s face hardened.
“Say that again.”
“You’re insane.”
Victoria moved.
Grace thought she was going to slap her.
Instead, Victoria shoved Lily.
It happened quickly.
The child stumbled backward toward the staircase.
Grace screamed and caught the railing with one hand while grabbing Lily’s dress with the other.
For one horrible second Lily’s feet left the step.
Grace dragged her back.
Lily burst into tears.
Victoria stared at them.
“I barely touched her.”
Grace lifted Lily.
“You tried to push my daughter down the stairs.”
“Prove it.”
There were security cameras everywhere.
Grace looked toward the ceiling.
Victoria followed her gaze.
Then smiled.
“That camera has been offline since yesterday.”
Grace’s stomach dropped.
Victoria leaned closer.
“You keep thinking this house protects you because it belongs to Nathan.”
She pointed toward the dark lens.
“But the person who controls what Nathan sees controls Nathan.”
Grace carried Lily downstairs without another word.
That evening, she checked the corridor camera.
The status light was on.
She found Marcus near the security room.
“You said the eastern staircase camera was working.”
He looked confused.
“It is.”
“Victoria said it was offline.”
Marcus paused.
“Maybe temporarily.”
“Can I see today’s recording?”
“That’s restricted.”
“My daughter almost fell.”
Marcus avoided her eyes.
Grace understood.
“You deleted it.”
“No.”
“You did.”
“Grace, go back downstairs.”
She stared at him.
“You gave her my envelope too, didn’t you?”
Marcus went still.
That was enough.
Grace stepped backward.
“You’re working for her.”
“It isn’t what you think.”
“What is it?”
“She pays me.”
“To do what?”
“To report things.”
“About Lily?”
Marcus rubbed his face.
“It started before I knew what this was.”
“How long?”
“Eight months.”
Grace’s voice dropped.
“Why?”
“I needed money.”
“So you sold my daughter.”
“I never touched her.”
“You helped Victoria hide her from Nathan.”
Marcus looked sick.
“I’m sorry.”
“Give me the birth certificate.”
“I can’t.”
“Then tell Nathan.”
Marcus shook his head.
“You don’t understand.”
“What?”
“There are other people.”
Grace stopped.
“What other people?”
Marcus glanced toward the security monitors.
“Victoria isn’t doing this alone.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know.”
“You’re lying.”
“I swear.”
A door opened behind them.
Nathan entered.
Both turned.
“What are you discussing?”
Marcus straightened.
“Nothing, sir.”
Nathan looked at Grace.
Her face was pale.
“What happened?”
Grace looked at Marcus.
Then Nathan.
She made another decision.
“Lily nearly fell down the eastern staircase today.”
Nathan’s face changed.
“What?”
“Victoria pushed her.”
Marcus whispered, “Grace.”
Nathan’s eyes moved to him.
“What did you say?”
Marcus swallowed.
Nathan stepped closer.
“You have ten seconds to tell me everything you know.”
Before Marcus could answer, every security monitor in the room went black.
A second later, the mansion alarm began screaming.
Nathan turned toward the screens.
“What the hell?”
Marcus stared at the central console.
“Someone wiped the system.”
From the corridor came the sound of breaking glass.
Grace’s face went white.
“Lily.”
She ran.
Nathan followed.
They reached the servants’ room.
The door was open.
May you like
The bed was empty.
Lily was gone.
