Chapter 2 - NOT THE FIRST TIME
Victor carried Ethan to the sofa while Lily called Dr. Hale, the private pediatrician who lived ten minutes away.
Serena stood in the center of the foyer like a woman watching her own trial begin without warning.
“What does she mean?” Victor asked.
The maid, Rosa, came down slowly.
Serena snapped, “Think very carefully before you speak.”
Victor turned his head.
“Don’t threaten anyone in my house.”
Rosa swallowed. “Three weeks ago, I heard Ethan crying in the nursery. Miss Serena was inside. When I opened the door, she was holding him by both arms and yelling because he wouldn’t stop crying.”
“That is a lie.”
Rosa’s eyes filled. “I saw bruises.”
Victor’s stomach tightened.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I tried.”
The answer landed harder than he expected.
Rosa continued. “I sent you two messages. Both disappeared from the household tablet. The next day Miss Serena told me that if I accused her again, my immigration sponsor would be withdrawn and my sister would lose her job too.”
Victor stared at Serena.
“You had access to staff accounts?”
“I manage this house.”
“You manage schedules. Not lives.”
The front doors opened again. Dr. Hale rushed in with a medical bag.
Ten minutes later, the doctor’s expression had turned grim.
“It may be a hairline fracture,” he said. “We need imaging immediately.”
Victor closed his eyes.
Serena stepped closer. “Victor, listen to me. Lily grabbed him first. I was trying to help.”
Lily looked stunned. “You pulled him off the couch because he spilled juice on your dress.”
Serena’s voice sharpened. “You’re fired.”
Victor looked at her.
“No. You are.”
The room went silent.
Serena stared at him as though she had misunderstood the language.
“You don’t mean that.”
Victor picked up Ethan.
“I mean get out.”
For the first time, Serena’s mask cracked.
“Fine,” she said softly. “But before you throw me away, you should ask your nanny why she was recording us.”
May you like
Victor looked at Lily.
Lily’s face drained of color.
