Chapter 2: The Price of Deception
Chapter 2: The Price of Deception
Sophia reached for Ethan.
"You don't understand."
He stepped away.
"No."
His voice was cold now.
"I understand perfectly."
He looked toward the house staff gathered in terrified silence.
"How long?"
No one answered.
Finally, the elderly housekeeper spoke.
"We were afraid."
"Sophia threatened to fire anyone who told you."
The lawyer, who had arrived for a scheduled meeting, quietly entered the foyer.
"I couldn't ignore this any longer."
He handed Ethan another folder.
Security footage.
Month after month.
Sophia humiliating Emily.
Throwing away her medicine.
Cutting her salary.
Ordering servants to isolate her.
Forcing a pregnant woman to scrub floors long after doctors had ordered bed rest.
Every recording had been preserved.
Sophia's confidence disappeared.
"Ethan..."
"Stop."
He raised one hand.
"You had every chance to tell the truth."
Security entered the mansion.
"This isn't necessary!"
"It became necessary the day you decided cruelty was power."
As officers escorted Sophia away to answer for fraud, abuse, and obstruction, she screamed Emily's name.
Emily never looked back.
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For the first time in months...
She felt free.
