Chapter 1: The Truth Behind the Marble Floor
Chapter 1: The Truth Behind the Marble Floor
Silence swallowed the mansion.
The older woman's smile slowly faded as she noticed the expression on her husband's face.
"Darling?" she asked again, her voice uncertain.
He didn't answer.
His eyes never left the young woman kneeling on the cold marble floor.
Her hands were raw.
Her knees were bruised.
The expensive maid's uniform hanging from her shoulders was several sizes too big, stained with bleach and dirty water.
"Dad..."
The word echoed through the room like a gunshot.
He crossed the distance in seconds.
Without hesitation, he removed his tailored suit jacket and gently wrapped it around his daughter.
His trembling hands lifted her off the floor.
"What happened to you?" he whispered.
Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks.
"I... I didn't want to make trouble."
He looked at her swollen wrists.
Tiny fingerprints circled them.
His breathing became heavier.
Slowly...
Very slowly...
He turned toward his wife.
"What."
He spoke only one word.
But every servant in the room instinctively lowered their heads.
The older woman forced an awkward laugh.
"Oh, don't be dramatic. She wanted to experience responsibility."
"My daughter?" he asked quietly.
"She's twenty-three now. I thought a little discipline would help."
"You made her scrub wine off the floor."
"It was only a little accident."
One of the housekeepers suddenly burst into tears.
"I'm sorry, sir..."
Everyone looked at her.
The elderly maid bowed deeply.
"Miss Emily has been cleaning this house every day for three months."
The businessman froze.
"What?"
Another servant stepped forward.
"She isn't allowed to eat with us."
A third spoke.
"Mrs. Victoria took away her phone."
Another.
"She sleeps in the servants' quarters."
"And..."
The youngest maid began crying.
"She wasn't hired as a maid."
Everyone stared at Victoria.
"Mrs. Victoria said... if Miss Emily wanted to stay in the house... she had to earn her place."
Emily quickly shook her head.
"Please don't get them in trouble."
But it was already too late.
The father slowly removed his wedding ring.
Placed it on the coffee table.
And said four words that changed everything.
"Get out of my house."
Victoria laughed.
"You can't be serious."
"I'm completely serious."
"You'd choose her over your own wife?"
He looked directly into her eyes.
"No."
"I chose the truth."
Security arrived less than two minutes later.
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For the first time in years...
Victoria realized she no longer had control.
