Chapter 2 – The Daughter She Never Recognized
Chapter 2 – The Daughter She Never Recognized
The leather briefcase struck the marble floor with a heavy thud.
No one moved.
The young woman slowly lifted her swollen face.
"Papa..."
Her voice was barely a whisper.
Victor Ashford crossed the foyer in seconds and dropped to one knee beside her.
His hands trembled as he brushed a strand of hair away from her bruised cheek.
"Emily..."
"What happened to you?"
She couldn't answer.
She only buried her face against his shoulder and sobbed.
The silk maid's uniform was stained with soap and blood.
Victor looked at the bruises on her wrists.
The split lip.
The raw skin on both knees.
His expression hardened.
He turned slowly toward his wife.
Catherine still sat on the staircase with a crystal wine glass in her hand.
"Victor..."
"It's not what it looks like."
He stared at her.
"Then explain."
Catherine stood.
"She refused to obey."
"So I taught her discipline."
The room fell silent.
Victor looked back at Emily.
"Did she do this to you?"
Emily hesitated.
Then gave the smallest nod.
That single movement shattered the last of his restraint.
He looked toward the head butler.
"Mr. Harrison."
The elderly butler stepped forward immediately.
"Yes, sir."
"Call my attorney."
"And call the family physician."
"No one leaves this house."
The smile disappeared from Catherine's face.
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For the first time...
She realized she had never been the most powerful person in the mansion.
