Chapter 3 - Sloane Had Told Maisie She Was “Going Somewhere Better”
Maisie talked only after she knew the wedding was truly canceled.
She was sitting in Graham’s childhood bedroom wearing oversized pajamas borrowed from his niece.
Her leg had already been checked.
Only the light scratch.
Nothing more.
Graham sat on the floor in front of her.
He did not ask:
Why were you being bad?
He asked:
“What happened before I came in?”
Maisie stared at her hands.
“Sloane said we had to practice.”
“Practice what?”
“Leaving.”
Graham’s chest tightened.
“When did she say that?”
“Today.”
“What exactly did she tell you?”
Maisie whispered:
“She said after you married her, she gets to decide where kids go.”
Graham remained completely still.
“She said I was going to a special house.”
“Did you want to go?”
Maisie shook her head hard.
“I said no.”
“And the chain?”
Her eyes filled again.
“I tried to run to you.”
Graham closed his eyes.
Sloane had not chained her for hours.
Not imprisoned her in some hidden room.
The chain came out when Maisie tried to flee.
That context did not soften anything.
It made the intention clearer.
Sloane needed the child contained long enough to keep Graham from learning about the planned removal before the ceremony.
“Where did she get it?” he asked.
“From the coat place.”
That detail mattered.
The chain belonged to the mansion.
A heavy decorative security chain normally used to secure rolling garment racks during large events.
Sloane had grabbed whatever was closest.
The cruelty had been improvised.
May you like
The plan behind it had not.
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