Chapter 2 – The Woman Behind the Perfect Smile

Chapter 2 – The Woman Behind the Perfect Smile

The next morning Ethan canceled Chicago entirely.

Instead, he called his security director.

"I want copies of every camera recording from the last three months."

"No exceptions."

By afternoon, a very different picture began to emerge.

Patricia wasn't protecting the family.

She was controlling it.

Video after video showed her dismissing Clara from rooms moments before speaking privately with the twins.

"You shouldn't bother Clara so much."

"Your daddy is trying to build a new family."

"Little girls who cling to maids don't make good daughters."

Then another recording.

One Ethan watched three times.

Patricia entered Madeline's old art studio.

She opened a cabinet Ethan hadn't touched since his wife's death.

She removed a velvet jewelry case.

Looked around.

And slipped it into her designer handbag.

Ethan stared at the screen.

His pulse slowed instead of racing.

Not because he wasn't angry.

Because everything suddenly made sense.

The missing earrings.

The missing bracelet.

Every accusation Patricia had directed toward Clara.

She hadn't been covering theft.

She had been creating a thief.

That evening Ethan invited Patricia to dinner.

She arrived wearing white silk and a confident smile.

"I've missed you."

He smiled politely.

"So have I."

Dinner passed quietly.

Then Ethan placed the velvet jewelry box on the table.

Patricia froze.

"I found something today."

Her smile flickered.

"I don't understand."

"I did."

He slid a tablet across the table.

The security footage began playing.

Frame by frame.

Minute by minute.

Her expression collapsed.

"Ethan..."

"You stole from my late wife."

"It isn't what it—"

"You blamed the woman raising my daughters."

"I was protecting us!"

"No."

His voice remained calm.

"You were protecting yourself."

The room fell silent.

Then came the words that mattered most.

"You'll leave this house tonight."

Patricia laughed nervously.

"You're choosing a maid over me?"

Ethan looked directly into her eyes.

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"No."

"I'm choosing the truth."