Chapter 2 – The House of Lies
Chapter 2 – The House of Lies
Vanessa followed Daniel into the office, trying desperately to stay composed.
"Daniel, she's manipulating you."
"She's angry because I gave her rules."
Daniel quietly opened his desk drawer.
"I was planning to give you something tonight."
He pulled out a small velvet box.
Inside rested a diamond engagement ring.
Vanessa's eyes lit up.
But before she could speak...
Daniel closed the box.
Then dropped it into the trash can.
Her smile disappeared.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm throwing away the biggest mistake I've ever made."
She stared in disbelief.
"You can't be serious."
Daniel reached for the security tablet connected to every camera in the mansion.
"I came home early because my meeting was canceled."
"I also received a motion alert."
He tapped the screen.
Video after video appeared.
Vanessa forcing Lily to scrub bathrooms.
Making her wash windows.
Dragging heavy laundry baskets.
Ordering her to stand in the corner for hours.
Even worse...
One recording captured Vanessa dumping Lily's dinner into the garbage.
"No dinner for liars."
Vanessa's breathing quickened.
"You recorded me?"
Daniel looked at her in disgust.
"I installed those cameras after someone kept entering my office."
"I never imagined they'd expose child abuse."
She grabbed his arm.
"It wasn't abuse."
"It was discipline."
Daniel pulled away immediately.
"No."
"It was cruelty."
At that moment the doorbell rang.
Minutes later two police officers and a representative from Child Protective Services stepped inside.
Vanessa's face turned ghost white.
"You called them?"
Daniel nodded once.
"The moment I saw my daughter's hands."
As officers placed handcuffs on Vanessa, she screamed across the foyer.
"She ruined everything!"
Daniel answered without raising his voice.
"No."
"You did."
The front door closed behind her.
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For the first time in years...
The mansion felt peaceful.
