Chapter 2 - When a furious billionaire father points a trembling finger at his manipulative wife, a terrifying mansion secret unravels under the grand crystal chandelier today.
Julian Vance stood tall in the vast marble foyer, his unbuttoned navy blue suit jacket swaying slightly as he held six-year-old Lily securely in his left arm.
Scattered red rose petals lay crushed beneath his polished leather shoes, silent remnants of a high-society dinner party that had descended into a nightmare.
His dark wavy hair caught the amber glow of the crystal chandelier as his jaw clenched tightly, a muscle ticking beneath his smooth skin.
"Get out of my house," Julian repeated, his voice dropping into a lethal, low register that sent a shiver through the towering double staircases.
Genevieve took a sharp, gasping breath, her emerald green satin gown rustling violently as she stumbled backward against the mahogany banister.
Her manicured hands trembled as she pressed them against her chest, her defensive facade collapsing into unadulterated, widespread panic.
"Julian, darling, please listen to me; that incompetent maid is lying to destroy our family!" Genevieve shrieked, her voice echoing off vaulted ceilings.
Beside the stairs stood Clara, the 25-year-old housemaid, her dark hair neatly pulled back, revealing a raw, purple bruise blooming near her left temple.
Clara stood her ground in her burgundy and white uniform, her dark eyes flashing with unyielding loyalty to the young child shivering in Julian's arms.
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"She tried to stop me from getting the inhaler, Mr. Vance," Clara said firmly, her voice steady and clear despite the physical evidence of assault.
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