Chapter 1
Clara stepped between Vanessa and six-year-old Ethan just as Vanessa grabbed the boy by the arm.
“Let him go,” Clara said.
Vanessa’s eyes narrowed.
“You don’t give orders in this house.”
Ethan twisted helplessly in her grip.
“You’re hurting me!”
Clara pulled him free and moved him behind her.
Vanessa slapped Clara so hard that her head snapped sideways.
The sound echoed through the living room.
Ethan screamed.
Clara touched her burning cheek, but she refused to move.
“You will never touch him again.”
Vanessa laughed coldly.
“You’re only the maid.”
She grabbed Clara’s shoulder and forced her toward the floor.
“Get on your knees and remember your place.”
Clara resisted until Vanessa seized a handful of her hair.
Ethan ran forward.
“Stop hurting her!”
Vanessa released Clara and raised her hand toward him.
Then the front door opened.
Arthur stood in the doorway.
His briefcase slipped from his hand.
“What are you doing?”
Vanessa froze.
Clara was still on her knees.
Ethan was crying beside her.
Vanessa lowered her hand and forced a smile.
“Arthur, this isn’t what it looks like.”
Arthur crossed the room, pulled Ethan behind him, and struck Vanessa across the face.
“You attacked my son and the woman protecting him?”
Vanessa stumbled backward.
Her expression changed from shock to rage.
“She turned him against me!”
Vanessa lunged at Clara again.
Arthur shoved her away.
She fell onto her knees beside Clara.
“You wanted her to kneel?” Arthur demanded. “Now apologize.”
Vanessa stared up at him.
“You’ll regret humiliating me.”
“Apologize.”
“I will not apologize to a servant.”
Arthur reached for Vanessa’s left hand.
She tried to pull away, but he removed the diamond engagement ring from her finger.
Her confidence vanished.
“No,” she whispered. “Arthur, don’t do this.”
He placed the ring in his pocket and called security.
“For the first time,” Clara said quietly, “you’re the one begging.”
Vanessa turned toward her with hatred in her eyes.
Two security guards entered moments later.
Vanessa rose and pointed at Clara.
“She attacked me first. Check her room. She’s been stealing from us.”
Clara’s face went pale.
“That’s a lie.”
Vanessa looked at Arthur.
“My bracelet disappeared yesterday. The one your mother gave me.”
Arthur hesitated.
It was only for a second, but Clara noticed.
Vanessa noticed too.
“Search her room,” Vanessa demanded. “If I’m lying, I’ll leave without another word.”
Clara stood.
“I have nothing to hide.”
They went upstairs together.
Ethan held Clara’s hand tightly as one of the guards opened the door to her small bedroom.
The room was neat.
There was a narrow bed, a dresser, and a framed photograph of Clara with her younger sister.
The guard opened the top drawer.
Nothing.
He checked the second drawer.
Nothing.
Vanessa folded her arms.
Then he pulled open the bottom drawer.
A velvet jewelry box was beneath Clara’s folded sweaters.
Clara stared at it.
“I’ve never seen that before.”
The guard opened the box.
Inside was Vanessa’s gold bracelet.
Arthur’s expression hardened.
Vanessa smiled.
“There’s your loyal maid.”
Clara shook her head.
“She planted it.”
“When?” Vanessa asked. “I’ve been with Arthur all morning.”
“That isn’t true,” Ethan said.
Everyone turned toward him.
The little boy was trembling.
Vanessa’s smile disappeared.
Ethan moved closer to Clara.
“You came home before Daddy.”
“Be quiet,” Vanessa snapped.
Arthur stepped between them.
“Let him speak.”
Ethan swallowed.
“I saw Vanessa go into Clara’s room.”
Vanessa laughed nervously.
“He’s confused.”
“I’m not confused.”
“You’re six.”
“And you’re a liar.”
Vanessa raised her hand again, forgetting Arthur was standing there.
Arthur caught her wrist.
“That is the last time you threaten my son.”
Vanessa pulled free.
“You’re choosing a maid and a confused child over your future wife?”
“I’m choosing the truth.”
“You don’t know the truth.”
“Then explain the bracelet.”
Vanessa’s eyes flickered toward the guard.
That tiny movement was enough.
Clara saw it.
So did Arthur.
The guard holding the jewelry box suddenly looked uncomfortable.
Arthur faced him.
“Marcus, where exactly did you find it?”
“In the drawer, sir.”
“You didn’t search beneath the clothes.”
Marcus stiffened.
“What?”
Clara pointed at the dresser.
“You opened the drawer and reached directly for the box.”
Silence filled the room.
Arthur stepped toward him.
“How did you know where it was?”
Marcus backed away.
Vanessa moved toward the door.
Arthur blocked her path.
“You paid him.”
“This is ridiculous.”
Marcus dropped the jewelry box and ran.
The second guard tackled him in the hallway.
Ethan covered his ears as the men struggled.
Arthur took out his phone and called the police.
Vanessa’s face lost all color.
“You can’t involve the police.”
“You assaulted Clara, threatened Ethan, planted stolen property, and bribed my security.”
“Arthur, listen to me.”
“No. You’ve done enough talking.”
Vanessa moved closer and lowered her voice.
“If I leave this house, your family will lose everything.”
Arthur stared at her.
“What does that mean?”
She smiled, but fear was hiding beneath it.
“Ask your board what happens when my mother withdraws her investment.”
“This was about my company?”
“It was about our future.”
“There is no future.”
Sirens approached outside.
Vanessa looked at Ethan.
“This isn’t over.”
Ethan hid behind Clara.
Arthur opened the bedroom door.
“It is for you.”
As the police entered the house, Marcus suddenly shouted from the hallway.
“She made me do it!”
Vanessa turned toward him.
“Shut your mouth.”
“She said she’d destroy my family!”
An officer placed Vanessa in handcuffs.
She did not resist.
Instead, she looked at Arthur and smiled.
“By tomorrow morning, you’ll be the one asking me to come back.”
Arthur watched her being led away.
Then his phone rang.
It was the chairman of his company.
Arthur answered.
The man’s voice was urgent.
“Arthur, we have a serious problem.”
Arthur glanced at Vanessa.
She was still smiling.
May you like
“What happened?”
“The company accounts have been frozen.”
