Chapter 2 - The Lethal Threat
Vanessa didn’t even raise her voice. The cinematic realism of her sheer, unapologetic cruelty was suffocating.
“Then tomorrow, you won’t work here anymore,” Vanessa stated smoothly, adjusting her expensive diamond bracelet. “And once you leave a prominent house like this without a reference, you know exactly how it works in this town. You won't find a job cleaning toilets.”
Preston’s heart hammered against his ribs. He gripped the edge of the doorframe, his knuckles turning white, but he didn’t move.
Vanessa took a slow, deliberate step toward the weeping housekeeper.
“And think about Lucia,” Vanessa whispered, her tone dropping into a lethal, demonic register. “Little kids wander off. A heavy door can be left open near the pool. A caregiver can easily look the other way. Nobody wants something unfortunate to happen to your precious little girl just because you refused to read a simple script.”
Lucia pressed her small, trembling body against Preston’s leg. She didn’t cry. That was the most horrifying part. The three-year-old was already conditioned to endure the abuse in absolute silence.
Preston wanted to kick the door open. He wanted to violently drag Vanessa out of his house by her hair. But he forced himself to stay perfectly still. If he barged in right now, Vanessa would immediately burst into fake tears, feign confusion, claim Rosa was extorting her, and systematically erase every trace of evidence before midnight.
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He gently lifted Lucia into his arms, pressing a silent, reassuring kiss to her forehead, and carried her silently down the hall to his private study.
👉 Preston needed to know how long the monster had been operating in the dark, and the little girl’s answer would shatter his heart.
