Chapter 2 - For ten seconds, nobody moved.Claire stared at Adrian.

Lily was still holding her hand.

Inside the estate.

The words echoed through her mind.

“That can't be right.”

Adrian didn't argue.

Marcus entered the room, his face grim.

“The camera angle confirms it.”

“Which camera?” Adrian asked.

“West garden.”

“That camera hasn't worked in three weeks.”

Marcus nodded.

“Exactly.”

Adrian's eyes hardened.

Someone had disabled the camera.

Then waited.

Someone who understood the security system.

Someone who knew when Claire and Lily would be outside.

Someone who belonged close enough to the family to move unseen.

Adrian turned to Claire.

“Take Lily upstairs.”

Claire didn't move.

“I want answers.”

“You'll get them.”

“Now.”

His voice sharpened.

Claire flinched.

Adrian immediately regretted it.

His expression softened.

“Please.”

She had never heard Adrian Mercer say that word.

Not to staff.

Not to business partners.

Not to anyone.

Claire nodded.

“Come on, Lily.”

Lily reached for her father.

“Daddy?”

Adrian crouched.

“You're safe.”

“Promise?”

His mouth tightened.

“I promised you before.”

Lily touched his cheek.

“Then don't break it.”

Adrian closed his eyes briefly.

“I won't.”

Claire took Lily upstairs.

The moment they disappeared, Adrian turned toward Marcus.

“Lock the house.”

“Already done.”

“No one enters.”

“Understood.”

“And no one leaves.”

Marcus hesitated.

“You're including yourself?”

Adrian stared at him.

“Everyone.”

Upstairs, Claire tucked Lily under the blankets.

But Lily wasn't sleepy.

“Claire?”

“Hmm?”

“Are you scared?”

Claire paused.

“Why do you ask?”

“Daddy gets quiet when he's scared.”

Claire forced a small smile.

“He's worried.”

“About you?”

The question caught her off guard.

“I don't know.”

Lily studied her.

“He likes you.”

Claire's cheeks warmed.

“He cares about you.”

“No.”

Lily shook her head.

“He likes you.”

Children had an inconvenient talent for saying the thing adults tried hardest not to notice.

Claire sat beside her.

“Your father is my employer.”

Lily looked confused.

“What's an employer?”

“Someone who gives you a job.”

“Daddy gives you a job?”

“Yes.”

“Can employers kiss people?”

Claire nearly choked.

“Lily!”

The little girl giggled.

“I saw Daddy looking at you.”

Claire's face became hot.

“Go to sleep.”

“Okay.”

Lily closed her eyes.

Claire stood.

Then she noticed a small drawing on the nightstand.

A house.

A little girl.

A woman with brown hair.

And a tall man standing beside them.

Three people.

A family.

Claire stared at it.

“Lily?”

The child did not respond.

Claire picked up the paper.

At the bottom, Lily had written three names.

LILY.

DADDY.

CLAIRE.

Her heart squeezed.

She had not realized how much she had become part of this child's world.

Then she heard a noise.

A soft click.

The bedroom door.

Claire turned.

It was opening.

Slowly.

She reached for the lamp.

“Adrian?”

No answer.

The door opened another inch.

Claire stepped back.

“Who's there?”

Silence.

Then a voice whispered from the hallway.

“Rebecca.”

May you like

I Came Home Early and Found My Housekeeper’s 3-Year-Old Daughter Scrubbi...

I returned home hours earlier than expected and discovered my housekeeper’s three-year-old daughter standing barefoot in the laund...

My Family Inherited Millions and Left Me a Ruined House. Four Months Lat...

The lawyer’s office fell silent as my grandmother’s will was read, and I watched my family inherit millions while I received nothi...

A Desperate Mother Begged a Billionaire for a Job to Feed Her Two Childr...

I was stranded on a lonely Arizona highway with two starving children, a pair of ruined suitcases, and no way to reach our destina...

Claire froze.

The door slammed shut.