Chapter 4 - The Closet of Tears
Arthur looked down at Leo. The little boy was physically shaking, hiding behind the maid's white apron, terrified of Victoria.
"Leo," Arthur said, his voice dropping to a low, commanding rumble. "Why were you running? What happened?"
Victoria stepped forward, trying to grab the boy's arm. "Arthur, he's just acting out! He’s trying to ruin our perfect day!"
"Don't touch him!" the maid snapped, her voice suddenly fierce, swatting Victoria’s hand away.
The crowd gasped. A maid striking a billionaire's bride was unheard of.
"I'll tell you why he was running, Mr. Sterling," the maid said, her voice shaking with righteous fury. "Because while you were taking photos with the press, your beautiful bride and her friends locked your son in the dark catering closet."
Arthur froze. He turned his head slowly to look at Victoria. "What?"
"She's lying!" Victoria panicked, the color draining from her face.
"They locked him in the dark," the maid continued, tears spilling down her cheeks. "Because he was crying for his mother. Victoria told him that if he ruined her wedding photos with his 'pathetic sobbing,' she was going to send him to a boarding school in Switzerland tomorrow morning and he would never see you again."
Arthur’s chest heaved. He looked at the three bridesmaids, who suddenly looked extremely nervous, avoiding his gaze.
"Is this true, Leo?" Arthur asked softly.
May you like
Leo nodded, sobbing. "It was dark, Daddy. And the lady in the maid dress opened the door. She hugged me. And she sang Mommy's special song to make me stop crying."
👉 How does the maid know the secret lullaby that only Claire ever sang?
